Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has welcomed the Emergency Management Minister’s decision late on Friday to grant Mallee’s Dadswells Bridge fire victims $1,000 per adult and $400 per child, from 2pm Monday. “I have been seeking this support since the fires, for those impacted at Dadswell Bridge,” Dr Webster said.

However, Dr Webster said the Albanese Labor Government needs to unlock funding support for fire-affected farmers and businesses in the south of her electorate, given farmers collectively lost hundreds of sheep in the fire.

“The Coalition Government established the Royal Commission that recommended forming the National Emergency Management Agency, and through that agency, past arrangements have included funding for Small and Medium Business Recovery Grant Programs and Primary Producer Grants Programs,” Dr Webster said, “These provided as much as $75,000 to clean up debris, remove or dispose of infrastructure, recover stock, conduct safety inspections, restore fencing and more.”

“This week in Canberra I advocated to Minister Watt for the people of Dadswells Bridge for the funding announced late today, and I hope further funding for affected farmers and small businesses can be unlocked.

“I am very relieved – after the courageous and selfless efforts of our Country Fire Authority volunteers, their staff and other agencies – that the fire threat appears to have passed. What I find most concerning at this stage in the recovery process is that even after a Royal Commission, levels of government seem to be bogged in bureaucracy wondering if they should do something to help victims. Some Mallee residents are homeless and in despair and have been on the phone to me in tears wondering why they had not been getting the help other victims have received.”

“I hope that a Coalition return to government will see these processes further streamlined so that victims are put first and swiftly get the help they need. Victims of disaster need to get back on their feet, back in business and living with hope for their futures.”