C
ommonwealth Minister for Justice Michael Keenan, and Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, today announced that disaster assistance has been activated for councils in 16 local government areas following flooding between 28 February and 8 March 2015.
ommonwealth Minister for Justice Michael Keenan, and Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, today announced that disaster assistance has been activated for councils in 16 local government areas following flooding between 28 February and 8 March 2015.Mr Keenan said the assistance was being provided under the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
“The Australian and Western Australian governments are committed to working together to ensure that disaster affected communities have all the help they need to recover,” Mr Keenan said.
Assistance available under the NDRRA may include:
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personal hardship and distress assistance for families and individuals to help with emergency needs such as food, clothing and accommodation, essential repairs to damaged homes, and the replacement of essential household contents;
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financial assistance for local and state government authorities to undertake counter disaster operations and to restore damaged public infrastructure;
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interest rate subsidies for small businesses and primary producers who have been directly impacted by the flooding; and
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freight subsidies for primary producers to assist with the costs of transporting livestock, fodders or water for livestock and machinery and equipment.
Mr Barnett said assistance included support for local and State Government agencies to undertake clean-up operations and restore essential infrastructure, such as local roads, that were damaged by the flooding.
The assistance has been activated for:
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Ashburton
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Carnamah
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Chapman Valley
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Cue
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Dalwallinu
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Greater Geraldton
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Meekatharra
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Mingenew
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Morawa
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Mount Magnet
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Mukinbudin
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Murchison
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Northam
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Sandstone
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Three Springs
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Yalgoo
“Disasters such as this can have a significant cost to local councils. This assistance will make sure that affected communities have the support they need to clean-up and rebuild as quickly as possible,” Mr Barnett said.
Information regarding the assistance available can be found on the Western Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet website at www.dpc.wa.gov.au and on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at http://www.disasterassist.gov.au
Fact File
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People suffering personal hardship can contact the Western Australian Department for Child Protection and Family Support by phone on 1800 032 965 to find out about the assistance that may be available to them
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Further information on NDRRA assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website athttp://www.disasterassist.gov.au
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Further information about disaster assistance in WA can be found at http://www.dpc.wa.gov.au
Disaster assistance for flood-affected Western Australia communities added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
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