$38.1M disaster relief election promise must be delivered now
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson says a $38.1M promise to help a veteran-run disaster recovery charity engage another 5,200 volunteers must be delivered upon immediately.
Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) was promised the funding by both major political parties during the most recent federal election campaign, to expand its National Veteran Volunteer Service Program.
Mr Thompson said DRA had been instrumental in helping communities like Townsville recover from flooding in 2019, and most recently communities in NSW and Queensland following their natural disasters.
“Disaster Relief Australia does an incredible job helping communities recover from natural disasters, while at the same time helping veterans connect with like-minded people and give back,” Mr Thompson said.
“When disaster strikes, people need all the help they can get cleaning up and getting back on their feet, and that’s exactly what these veteran volunteers do.
“Unfortunately we’ve seen a situation where we’ve had multiple natural disasters to start off the year and there’s a shortage of help on the ground.
“That’s why the Prime Minister has got people coming up to him in Windsor saying, ‘No one’s going to help me clean up.’ That’s exactly where DRA comes in.”
Mr Thompson has written to Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt asking for the promised funding to be released immediately.
“In the context of multiple significant natural disasters occurring yearly, DRA – and the communities they are assisting – cannot afford to wait until the next budget to receive this much-needed assistance,” he said.
“I’m calling on the Government to put this funding to work now, and get more boots on the ground.”
ENDS