Relief cash locked up

THE federal government has been accused of dithering over the release of cash from its $4bn Emergency Response Fund after having announced the initiative 18 months ago.

But Natural Disaster and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the government was already investing more than $2bn in recovery and disaster measures, while the fund’s guidelines were being finalised.

Labor’s spokesman for disaster and emergency management and northern Australia, Murray Watt, said the government was again failing its people and called for the fund to be “unlocked immediately” to safeguard Australians from natural disasters.

“The government announced a $4bn Emergency Response Fund for disaster recovery and mitigation in last year’s budget, but 18 months on, not a single cent has been spent,” Senator Watt said.

“The fund could have been used to protect communities from the cyclones, floods and fires we know are coming. It could have been used to build fire breaks, evacuation centres, flood levees and cyclone shelters to keep Australians safe.

“Instead, in 18 months, the Morrison government has failed to even call for applications for funding.”

Mr Littleproud said the government was already investing $2 billion in bushfire recovery, $260 million in disaster preparedness and mitigation and $20 million to build cyclone ready homes in North Queensland.

“Emergency Management Australia is finalising the ERF mitigation stream guidelines and has worked extensively with states and territories in preparation for the severe weather season.”

Last week, Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the community had seen very little funding provided for mitigation and called on governments to fund more flood research.

Also, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Severe Weather Outlook for this summer, warning that Australia faces an increased risk of cyclones, flooding and grass growth, leading to heightened fire danger.

The $4 billion fund is to allow the government to draw on as much as $200m a year beyond what is already available.