$45m bushfires bill for state
$45m bushfires bill for state
10 April 2013
published by www.themercury.com.au
Australia — JANUARY’S devastating bushfires will cost the State Budget $45 million.
Premier Lara Giddings revealed the costs for the initial disaster response and recovery efforts were estimated to cost the State Government about $45 million across a range of government agencies.
Ms Giddings yesterday also announced former South Australian police commissioner Malcolm Hyde would head the inquiry into the bushfires.
Mr Hyde, who left his police post after 15 years in July last year, will deliver his verdict on the bushfires in September.
Ms Giddings said the inquiry was a key part of the recovery process.
“There was a lot to be proud of in response to the bushfires, but there will always be things we can do better,” Ms Giddings said.
The controversial issue of fuel reduction burns will be part of the agenda for the $670,000 inquiry.
Ms Giddings said the financial impact of the fires on the Budget would be spread over several years.
The Government also presented a Bill to Parliament yesterday to allow for $62.9 million from this year’s Budget to meet the initial costs of the bushfires, the Government’s jobs package and blowouts in government departments.
The Bill includes $22 million for the upfront costs of the bushfire response and recovery effort, $12.2 million for the Tasmanian Jobs Package and $3 million to pay salaries and business costs that will allow the West Coast Wilderness Railway to remain open.
Government departments will also be given additional funds, including $7.7 million for out-of-home care and child protection services, $63,000 to provide counselling services to people affected by forced adoption and $10 million to finalise the police mobile radio network upgrade.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Peter Gutwein said the State Government was on track to deliver the worst budget deficit in Tasmanian history at more than $400 million.
“While obviously the recent bushfires will have an impact on the Budget, the vast majority of the overspending announced today has nothing to do with bushfires and everything to do with a Labor-Green Government that simply can’t stick to a budget,” he said.
