Fund gives bushfire victims $50,000 to rebuild
Fund gives bushfire victims $50,000 to rebuild
12 March 2009
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — Victorian homeowners who lost their principal place of residence in last month’s bushfires will be given $50,000 to help them rebuild.
The money will be drawn from the Bushfire Recovery Appeal Fund, and go to both the insured and uninsured.
Tenants whose principal place of residence was destroyed will be given $15,000, while extra payments will be made on a needs basis.
Fund chairman John Landy says the payments are possible because of the generosity of those who donated.
“They did this, I think, with a wish, that houses should be rebuilt and communities should be restored,” he said.
“And we have taken this on board, and we have made this universal payment.”
The $50,000 grant consists of $35,000 for rebuilding and $15,000 to replace contents.
Premier John Brumby says the money will help fire survivors get their lives back on track.
“Families can now plan ahead with certainty, knowing that there is a minimum financial contribution,” he said.
Mr Brumby says additional payments will be made on a needs basis.
“Particularly larger families, families with special needs, or families who are uninsured, or only partially insured,” he said.
Mr Landy says the generosity of Australians, who had donated through the Australian Red Cross, had enabled the fund to provide assistance to those whose homes had been destroyed or damaged.
Nationals’ leader Peter Ryan says the money should not be used as a substitute for Government grants and programs.
He says it is a good result and will help both insured and uninsured property owners.
“I think the fund should be administered with the same spirit of generosity as has marked the extraordinary level of donations that have come not only from Australia – particularly from Victoria – but from worldwide sources,” Mr Ryan said.
“I think this announcement today has done that, so I think it is a welcome step along the way.”
The Opposition’s bushfire recovery spokesman, Peter Ryan, says the payments should be coupled with tax relief.
The announcement brings to more than $180 million the total allocated from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.
We Will Rebuild
A centralised website has been established where survivors of the bushfires can access recovery and reconstruction services.
The website is at www.wewillrebuild.vic.gov.au.
Authorities say it will be a one-stop shop for all bushfire related information.
Responsive
Meanwhile, the Lions’ committee for emergency relief is calling on all levels of government to be more responsive to the needs of bushfire victims.
Property owners are complaining about long delays in getting rubbish cleared from their properties and replacing fences.
Lions’ spokesman Peter McShane says many affected householders do not know how to access help.
He says people are becoming frustrated at the delays and a perceived lack of action.
“We need to start the clearance and we need to be actually seen at [all] levels of government to be … taking the initiative and helping people out,” Mr McShane said.
“Perception is reality – what some of these people are seeing is not really helpful.
“They are seeing people who don’t seem to understand what they’re talking about.”
