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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 83 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

We also provided assistance for rural lessees, comprising 100 per cent of cost for cartage for feeding animals for one week after the fires and for 50 per cent of cartage costs after that until conditions improve with changes in the weather. That is on a needs basis.

A $3,000 disaster relief grant was provided to assist businesses and rural leaseholders whose business assets were destroyed, acknowledging that up to 60 home businesses operated in the 474 houses that were destroyed. Through that immediate $3,000 disaster relief grant, the government responded to the needs of people who had operated home businesses.

A number of other significant assistance packages have been provided by the government. They include free school bus travel for students and families that have had to relocate as a result of the bushfires. Water and sewerage charges were waived for six months where homes had been destroyed. Rates were waived for six months from 1 January where homes had been destroyed. Rural leaseholders' rates can be deferred until six months after the drought declaration has been lifted. Charges on identity for drivers licences, land titles and birth, death and marriage certificates have been waived.

Interest subsidy loans were provided for businesses and rural leaseholders whose assets were significantly damaged. Fees were waived for the disposal of the fire-damaged building material from residential and community properties, with a concessional rate to be charged for institutional and commercial properties. Fees were waived on development applications and planning applications to replace destroyed buildings. At the time of the disaster, a $75 per day short-term emergency payment was made.

The emergency task force which the government appointed is also currently undertaking a survey of householders impacted by the January fire. That commenced late last week to determine the medium-term accommodation needs of people who lost their homes. Whilst all people who lost their homes were placed in the short term, some of those arrangements will not be satisfactory in the medium or long term, and we are concerned to ensure that people have available to them medium to long-term housing until they can replace their homes.

Members would be interested to know that between 80 and 84 ACT public housing trust houses were destroyed. ACT Housing responded promptly to identify the needs of all of our clients who lost their homes as a result of the fire.

Significant ongoing issues face the government in relation to the public housing stock, in the context of insurance arrangements that applied and our capacity to access insurance and replace homes without delay.

My colleague the Treasurer oversaw the establishment of the Canberra bushfire recovery appeal, which to date has attracted around $4.5 million in donations. I thank the community for their generosity in supporting that appeal. The Treasurer also announced a bushfire business assistance package, some details of which I mentioned before.

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