3 years ago
WHERE’S SCOTT MORRISON’S PLAN FOR DISASTER SEASON?
Murray Watt MP
The Morrison Government is once again playing catch-up on disaster management, with funds announced, but not spent, for mitigation work in fire and flood-prone regions.
Yet again we see that Scott Morrison is good at announcements, but terrible at delivering.
Despite bushfire season already underway, the Minister in charge admitted the Government hasn’t used a cent of funds that were announced in April 2019, to prevent future disasters.
During Question Time in the House of Representatives on Thursday, new Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain asked why the Government had not spent a cent of its $200 million per year Emergency Response Fund (ERF), which was designed to support disaster recovery and mitigation programs.
In response to the question, Minister for Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud admitted no mitigation projects have been funded, and the Government has not even worked out how to deliver the much-needed funding to disaster-prone regions:
“We’ll be going out to the community in coming weeks, asking the community around preparedness…” – Question Time, Sept 4, 2020
“Emergency Management Australia will be putting in place a process…and probably working with the states to achieve that.” - ABC Illawarra interview, Sept 4, 2020
Sadly, the first year’s allocation of $200 million was not used and we are now two months into a new financial year, with no money spent either.
The Government’s inaction means we have lost the chance to use these funds to build fire breaks, evacuation centres, flood levees, cyclone shelters and other infrastructure.
With bushfire season now underway, and floods and cyclones predicted from La Niña weather conditions, the Government’s failure is putting Australians at risk.
It is wrong for Scott Morrison to hold out hope to disaster victims and then not deliver.
It is negligent for the Federal Government to be sitting on a war chest that could prevent future disasters, and not use it.
Last year, we saw Scott Morrison ignore disaster warnings and Australians paid the price.
Sadly, it’s happening again.
Yet again we see that Scott Morrison is good at announcements, but terrible at delivering.
Despite bushfire season already underway, the Minister in charge admitted the Government hasn’t used a cent of funds that were announced in April 2019, to prevent future disasters.
During Question Time in the House of Representatives on Thursday, new Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain asked why the Government had not spent a cent of its $200 million per year Emergency Response Fund (ERF), which was designed to support disaster recovery and mitigation programs.
In response to the question, Minister for Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud admitted no mitigation projects have been funded, and the Government has not even worked out how to deliver the much-needed funding to disaster-prone regions:
“We’ll be going out to the community in coming weeks, asking the community around preparedness…” – Question Time, Sept 4, 2020
“Emergency Management Australia will be putting in place a process…and probably working with the states to achieve that.” - ABC Illawarra interview, Sept 4, 2020
Sadly, the first year’s allocation of $200 million was not used and we are now two months into a new financial year, with no money spent either.
The Government’s inaction means we have lost the chance to use these funds to build fire breaks, evacuation centres, flood levees, cyclone shelters and other infrastructure.
With bushfire season now underway, and floods and cyclones predicted from La Niña weather conditions, the Government’s failure is putting Australians at risk.
It is wrong for Scott Morrison to hold out hope to disaster victims and then not deliver.
It is negligent for the Federal Government to be sitting on a war chest that could prevent future disasters, and not use it.
Last year, we saw Scott Morrison ignore disaster warnings and Australians paid the price.
Sadly, it’s happening again.