Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 309 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

The level of assistance provided will depend on the amount of money donated, so we encourage people to dig deep and ensure that those affected by the fires start to receive assistance. As I said, the government will provide the administrative support.

The appeal is being managed by a group of Canberra citizens drawn from the community, representing welfare, business, government and particularly interest groups such as the indigenous, aged and multicultural communities. That is the Canberra Community Foundation. The management committee is chaired by Bishop Browning and Michelle Thorne, a very active young indigenous woman who works within her community on many fronts.

The committee has established eligibility criteria to assess each application. Priority will be given to those most in need of relief-that is, those whose primary place of residence has been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. Each case will be assessed on its merits. Assistance will be through grants and not loans. People given relief and help through the appeal will not be asked to repay any money. Money is not a replacement for other forms of government or insurance assistance.

Assistance is available to householders, small businesses, farm households and community groups that have been directly affected by the Canberra bushfires. The appeal has been widely advertised and promoted so that all victims are aware of available assistance. The application period will close on 3 April. We need to get people to apply and to get virtually all the applications in so that the foundation can set their priorities and not be at risk of expending all the funds and then finding other claims coming in. I am appealing to all members to spread word as far and as wide as they can that the appeal is open and applications will be received. They can be submitted at the Lyons recovery centre, at any ACT government shopfront, on line through Canberra Connect or by phoning Canberra Connect.

Those who have already registered will only have to fill out a rather simple form over and above their registration at the recovery centre. People who have not yet gone to the recovery centre but feel that they have a claim will have to fill out a slightly more comprehensive form.

Let me emphasise that this is a fund of the community for the community. No matter how much we do as a government, by being in government we are stuck with setting black-and-white rules. No matter how complex it might be, we have to set a regime that makes sure that everybody is treated equally. That often militates against special cases. The fund will be more flexible. It will be a helping hand. It will be a discretionary fund. The discretion is held by the Canberra Community Foundation.

I encourage all members, where they can, to advise all people who may have been affected by the bushfires to put their applications in so we can get them all in, sorted and processed so that the relief goes out.

MR HARGREAVES: I ask a supplementary question. Will the minister inform the Assembly how much the appeal has received so far?

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .