CALLS FOR EXTENDED NSW STORM SUPPORT
The NSW Opposition is calling for the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments to extend disaster recovery funding to help more communities smashed by severe storms.
The natural disaster declaration made today has left residents across the Mid-Coast, Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper Hunter, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast local government areas (LGAs) wondering why they have been left out.
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Gurmesh Singh said the Government can’t pick and choose when it comes to helping people in a time of need.
“Over the past few days we’ve seen extremely dangerous conditions that has left hundreds of thousands of residents without power and caused widespread damage across our communities,” Mr Singh said.
“The State Emergency Service has done an incredible job keeping people safe, but as we start to count the cost of the destruction it doesn’t make sense to deliver financial assistance to some people, while leaving others in the lurch.
“The NSW Emergency Services Minister needs to push his Federal Labor counterpart to have the natural disaster zone extended to ensure all affected residents and businesses get the support they need.”
Shadow Minister for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said the declaration doesn’t reflect the extent of the situation on the ground.
“The Central Coast also suffered through this intense storm activity and it’s disappointing that none of the local state Labor MPs are standing up to make sure we are also included in the disaster declaration,” Mr Crouch said.
“We are calling for this to happen immediately, and we also need the Minns Government to temporarily lift the waste levy in more areas, given the enormous amount of debris that has been generated.”
Member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said large swaths of his electorate have gone days without power.
“Our residents have quite literally been sitting in the dark with food going off in the fridge and they need to be able to access essential supplies and start to repair what has been damaged,” Mr Layzell said.
“I spoke to Minister Dib about the situation and emphasised that the Government cannot sit back and wait for forms to be filled out.
“In natural disasters, people have to come first. I asked the minister to take action immediately for the sake of the whole Hunter Central Coast region.”
