Morrison Government announces $2 billion for national bushfire recovery fund

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced funding of $2 billion for a bushfire recovery fund over the next two years.

At least $2 billion will be pumped into a national bushfire recovery fund over the next two years.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Federal Government would establish a new agency with an initial $2 billion to coordinate the response to rebuild communities and livelihoods after devastating fires have passed.

The National Bushfire Recovery Agency will support the work of state and territory governments and act as a “one stop shop” central team.

A fund will be established to support local governments, farmers and primary producers, and deliver mental health supports to first responders.

“If further funds are required, further funds will be provided,” Mr Morrison said on Monday.

“We’re focused on the financial cost, we’re focused on the human costs, and ensuring we can do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to support that recovery effort.”

When asked whether the Morrison Govermnent would still be able to deliver a surplus, the PM said: “The surplus is of no focus for me whatsoever. What matters to me is the human cost and meeting whatever cost we need to meet”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks alongside Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack (left) and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at Parliament House on Monday. Picture: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the initial $2 billion investment would be on top of existing disaster recovery payments and allowances, which have so far seen more than $100 million flow to families, small businesses and farmers.

Mr Frydenberg said the money would help get communities back on their feet by assisting with restocking and replenishing, rebuilding roads and telecommunications infrastructure, mental health support, attracting tourists back to the regions and helping restore the local environment and impacted wildlife.

The latest announcement comes on top of the government’s $6000 payment for volunteer firefighters, which was announced last month after increasing pressure on the Prime Minister to help.

The new agency will be led by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin and will be modelled on the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency established after the 2019 North Queensland floods, as well as the experience of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority created after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Koalas including this one pictured in Adelaide Hills have been badly impacted by the fires. Picture: Keryn Stevens/AAP

The agency’s key tasks will be:

• Build on the effective working relationships with state, territory and local governments, including their recovery and reconstruction bodies, and to work with stakeholders in bushfire affected communities, and relevant Commonwealth agencies to inform and integrate recovery and rebuild activities;

• Ensure affected communities have ready access to meaningful support and all available services;

• Provide advice and recommendations to government on the economic and social impacts of bushfire on affected communities, in consultation with relevant agencies across all levels of government; and

• Develop and coordinate the delivery of a long-term plan for the recovery, rebuild and resilience of bushfire affected communities.

Twenty Service Australia pop-ups will also open in fire-affected communities to help people access disaster payments.

“We have taken a number of decisions to streamline those payments to make sure cash gets into people’s hands as soon as possible,” Mr Morrison said.

Welfare debt recovery and mutual obligations requirements in bushfire-affected regions are also being suspended for at least two months.

A koala and firefighter watch flames approaching.

The agency will work within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and report to Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management.

Funding for the agency is in addition to payments that have been activated in all bushfire affected areas and will see $25 million flowing to communities.

The Commonwealth and NSW Governments have also committed $86 million for the recovery effort in that state, and Category C assistance in Victoria is also expected to flow shortly.

People affected by the bushfires can claim disaster payments by calling Services Australia (Centrelink) on 180 22 66 and find more information at www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster. As soon as it is safe to do so, Mobile Service Centres will head into affected regions to assist with all Government payment services, including disaster payments.