DISASTER RELIEF – GOVERNMENT POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Morrison doubles family aid payments

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Original article by Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 4 : 16-Jan-20

The federal government has announced changes to its family assistance payments for bushfire victims. Families have already received a disaster recovery payment of $400 per child; Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that they will shortly receive an additional $400 for each child, at a cost of $7.9m. The government will also relax the paperwork requirements of volunteer firefighters who claim compensation for loss of income while serving on the bushfires frontline.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Recovery funds to hit budget

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Rosie Lewis, Patrick Commins, Ean Higgins
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Jan-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that the Budget bottom line will be impacted by the federal government’s disaster relief measures. However, Morrison has stressed that his priority is to provide bushfire victims with the support they need, now and over the next several years. The government has announced an initial $100m funding package to support farmers, fishers and foresters who have been affected by the bushfires. Details of a $50m funding package for charities and financial counsellors to assist bushfire victims will be announced on 15 January.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

No tax on disaster payments for fire-stricken Aussies

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Original article by David Crowe
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Jan-20

The federal government has advised that the one-off Disaster Recovery Allowance for bushfire victims will be exempt from income tax. The government will introduce legislation to this effect when Parliament resumes in early February, and it is expected to be supported by Labor. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says accommodation operators in fire-affected areas have been hard hit by the disaster, and he has urged people to support them by not cancelling their bookings and seeking a refund.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Colvin promises bureaucracy won’t get in way of bushfire recovery effort

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Original article by Rob Harris
The Australian – Page: Online : 8-Jan-20

Andrew Colvin, the head of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, has stressed that its disaster relief strategy will be tailored to the unique needs of each community that has been affected by the fires. He adds that the NBRA will only be successful if it works closely with other agencies to ensure that affected communities receive the support they need. Colvin has also given assurances that the NBRA will seek to minimise bureaucratic hurdles for fire-affected communities.

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AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL BUSHFIRE RECOVERY AGENCY

PM’s $2bn recovery vow

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Original article by Ben Packham, Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Jan-20

The federal government will provide the National Bushfire Recovery Agency with initial funding of $2bn, which will be used to support communities that have been devastated by the bushfires. The funding will be used to rebuild critical infrastructure, provide grants to small businesses and farmers, and to offer mental health support for people who have been affected by the disaster. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emphasised that recovering from the bushfires is a greater priority for the government than a Budget surplus. He adds that the government’s climate change policies will not be reviewed as a result of the disaster.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

PM stumps up for fire crisis

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 6-Jan-20

The federal government has appointed former Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew ­Colvin to head its national bushfire recovery agency. It will finance the reconstruction of critical infrastructure that has been damaged or destroyed, as well as providing income and mental health support for people who have been affected by the disaster. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ruled out asking the states to match the federal government’s funding. Natural Disaster and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud has stressed the need to ensure that government support is tailored to each community that has been affected by the bushfires.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE