Fed: Govt disaster relief in the wake of "this evil thing"
By Kate Hannon, National Political Editor10 Feb 2009 7:41 PM
Eds: Takes in ke: Disaster
CANBERRA, Feb 10 AAP - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has stepped up the government's relief funds to the victims of Victoria's bushfires and Queensland's floods, during a sombre address to parliament after spending an emotional three days in Victoria's worst affected areas.
Mr Rudd returned to Canberra on Wednesday after touring the fire-ravaged areas of Victoria, where 181 people are confirmed dead, and called on Australians to "come to grips with this evil thing".
"Fire holds a great terror for us all - its power, its speed, its roar, its relentless destruction, its capricious shifts in course, its wont of mercy," Mr Rudd told parliament.
He said the government would provide $5 million to church and community organisations providing relief for victims of the Victorian bushfires and the Queensland floods.
It would also provide the two affected state governments uncapped access to funds from the $42 billion economic stimulus package to be spent on public housing and schools in fire and flood devastated areas.
In a statement of condolence to parliament, Mr Rudd said Australia had been contacted by the leaders of 23 nations, including the United States, Britain, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as the United Nations and the European Union.
Question time was again suspended in both houses to allow MPs, particularly those from electorates either touched by or near the fires, to tell of the devastation and to praise firefighters and volunteers.
A subdued Mr Rudd pledged to rebuild the communities even though the $6.4 billion for public housing and the $14.7 billion for schools in the $42 billion economic stimulus package is yet to pass through parliament.
Again he praised firefighters and the efforts of brigade volunteers and those who had volunteered for the relief effort.
For those responsible for deliberately lighting some of the fires, Mr Rudd said there was no excuse.
"This, as I said yesterday, is simply murder on a grand scale," he said.
"Let us attend to this unfinished business of the nation and come to grips with this evil thing."
Mr Rudd said that given the magnitude of the "unfolding tragedy" the government had decided not to cap the amount available for reconstruction.
"The Victorian government will be able to give priority to construction and school infrastructure in communities affected by bushfires," Mr Rudd said.
"The Queensland government will also be able to give priority to repairs and upgrades to those schools which have been damaged by flooding in north Queensland.
"This government will be partners for the long term."
As well as the $5 million for church and community groups to provide food and other essential supplies, Mr Rudd said the government would provide an ex gratia payment of up to 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for people unable to work because of the disasters in both states.
Mr Rudd said access to $250 million in grants for local governments under the community and infrastructure program would be brought forward from May to later this month and councils would be able to spend the grants on what they want.
He said that 25 local government areas affected by the fires in Victoria were in need of assistance.
Payments of disaster relief funds of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child had begun on Monday, and by the close of business on that day 2,027 claims had been made.
He said 427 had been paid with the rest pending.
Nearly 500 adults and children had been provided with assistance worth $493,400.
"Authorities are working to provide further assistance as quickly as is humanly possible," Mr Rudd said.
