Almost $1.7m in aid to bushfire-hit areas

AUSTRALIA – People in bushfire-hit areas of NSW and Queensland have been given almost $1.7 million in federal government support since widespread blazes caused devastation this week.

Some 1320 claims have been processed across affected regions of the two states since Sunday, the Department of Human Services says.

A total of $1,695,600 has been provided in federal government Disaster Recovery Payments and Disaster Recovery Allowance.

The Disaster Recovery Payments are available to people whose homes have been severely damaged or destroyed, who have been seriously injured or who have lost a family member in the fires.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to eligible people who have lost income as a direct result of the bushfires.

The government said DRA is now available to people in 19 more local government areas across the two states, as well as the 16 areas already announced.

Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert advised people in affected areas to call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line.