2023-09-20
Greens MPs and Northern Rivers locals Tamara Smith and Sue Higginson are pushing ahead with questions and orders for documents relating to the chaotic and poorly communicated North Rivers floods recovery plan.
The Legislative Council yesterday passed a motion that will compel the production of documents held by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation and the NSW Reconstruction Authority that relate to the draft Resilient Lands Strategy, the Resilient Homes Program and the Flood Hazard Information.
The Government must now produce all documents relating to these three plans and programs within 28 days that will hopefully shed light on the processes and evidence behind programs that have been heavily criticised by Northern Rivers communities.
Questions on Notice have also been submitted by The Greens today that will uncover the true statistics relied on by the Government in providing emergency funding and relief to communities impacted by the devastating floods in February and March of 2022.
Quotes attributable to Greens MP and Lismore resident Sue Higginson:
“We have always asked for transparency and to be fully engaged in our recovery, but we haven't been afforded either. Two months ago the Minns Government announced a reset on our recovery, but this week it has failed to deliver on the Tranche 2 funding in the Budget. We need to better understand our predicament and a genuine reset starts with full transparency,”
“The call for papers that has passed the Parliament means that all members of the community, councils, councillors and interested parties can examine the processes that have informed the programs and strategies that have been imposed upon us. This is essential to rebuilding trust and ensuring that recovery funds are well directed and achieving the goal assisting those in need,”
“The Government declined to support the release of this information, claiming that the cost is too great, but the Reconstruction Authority, the responsible agency in this case, has just been granted $2.5 billion in the budget. The public interest in how this authority functions and how money is spent is overwhelming,”
“Despite reluctance from the Government to allow the community to access these documents, the Greens have asserted the rights of the Parliament to compel the production of documents and interested members of the community will now be better informed about the operations of Government that are deciding their future. Properly understanding our recovery is important to all communities, because we know disaster recovery will be much more frequent. We have literally just entered the season of fire disaster with out of control fires across the state.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Ballina and NSW Greens Disaster Relief Spokesperson Tamara Smith:
“It’s great news that the Legislative Council have passed Sue’s motion compelling the NSW Government to provide a transparent account of their flood recovery efforts so far.
In the Northern Rivers, everyone knows someone who has been told they aren’t eligible for a buyback, house-raise or retrofit due the funding shortfall in the Resilient Homes Program. Hopefully, this new information will give our flood survivors some of the clarity that they have been denied so far.
Without an additional $700 million in funding for the Resilient Homes Program, it will be impossible for the federal government to deliver the support that they promised to our community, and that our flood survivors desperately need.
The Premier has called on the federal Labor government to contribute this additional funding, but it’s incredibly disappointing that federal Labor has failed to make a commitment over 18 months on from the floods.
The Greens will continue to ask the tough questions on behalf of the Northern Rivers region.”
For media comment please contact:
Sue Higginson: 0428 227 363
Tamara Smith: 0468 328 502