3 years ago
NOTHING SPENT FROM $4BN DISASTER FUND
Murray Watt MP
Scott Morrison must explain why he has failed to spend a cent of a $4 billion Federal fund on flood prevention in nearly two years, as large parts of New South Wales remain under water.
During Senate Estimates this week, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed not a single disaster mitigation project has been selected or funded under the $4 billion Emergency Response Fund (ERF) since the program was announced in April 2019.
It was also revealed that over 70 ERF applications - valued at around $250 million - specifically for flood mitigation works, are still sitting in limbo, despite several flood warnings in the lead up to this disaster season.
The fund allocates $200 million per financial year to be spent nationally on natural disaster recovery and mitigation projects like flood levees, evacuation centres and fire breaks.
That means the Morrison Government could have invested $400 million in recovery and mitigation works over the past two years, but has failed to spend a cent.
The fact that the Scott Morrison deliberately chose to keep taxpayer money in the bank, rather than deliver potentially life-saving infrastructure is even more appalling in light of the floods currently impacting thousands of Australians.
For months, we’ve known we face more wet weather this year due to La Niña.
Unfortunately, the Morrison Government has ignored those warnings and wasted valuable time which could have been used to safeguard communities.
Despite report after report calling on the Federal Government to invest in disaster mitigation, rather than disaster clean-up, it has repeatedly failed to heed the call.
When will the Morrison Government finally start listening and start delivering on its announcements?
During Senate Estimates this week, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed not a single disaster mitigation project has been selected or funded under the $4 billion Emergency Response Fund (ERF) since the program was announced in April 2019.
It was also revealed that over 70 ERF applications - valued at around $250 million - specifically for flood mitigation works, are still sitting in limbo, despite several flood warnings in the lead up to this disaster season.
The fund allocates $200 million per financial year to be spent nationally on natural disaster recovery and mitigation projects like flood levees, evacuation centres and fire breaks.
That means the Morrison Government could have invested $400 million in recovery and mitigation works over the past two years, but has failed to spend a cent.
The fact that the Scott Morrison deliberately chose to keep taxpayer money in the bank, rather than deliver potentially life-saving infrastructure is even more appalling in light of the floods currently impacting thousands of Australians.
For months, we’ve known we face more wet weather this year due to La Niña.
Unfortunately, the Morrison Government has ignored those warnings and wasted valuable time which could have been used to safeguard communities.
Despite report after report calling on the Federal Government to invest in disaster mitigation, rather than disaster clean-up, it has repeatedly failed to heed the call.
When will the Morrison Government finally start listening and start delivering on its announcements?