Dom Perrottet raced to get $10k ‘back home’ flood grants for NSW as PM campaigned in WA

NSW Premier Dom Perrottet raced to get a new $10,000 “back home” grant for flood-hit families before the birth of his baby, but the PM was busy campaigning.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was in a race against time to announce $10,000 grants for flood affected families before he went on paternity leave.

News.com.au revealed on Wednesday night that residents of flood-ravaged towns in NSW would be offered $10,000 “back home” grants to rebuild their homes as thousands face months living in tents and caravans.

The grants are up to $10,000 if you own your own home and it is your principal place of residence. Renters will be eligible a $5,000 grant.

Landlords will also secure a $5,000 grant to clean up properties they rent out to tenants.

The package is also looking at further grants to primary producers of up to $25,000.

But a bitter war of words breaks over frustrations the Prime Minister is holding up the announcement, amid claims he refused to announce it on Wednesday because he was campaigning in Western Australia.

State officials say they were working on the $1 billion package until 3 am on Wednesday morning, with one of the issues driving the urgency the impending birth of the Premier’s daughter Celeste.

“He was desperate to get the help out to families and we wanted him to be able to announce it before the birth,” a NSW government source told news.com.au.

Mr Perrottet’s new daughter Celeste, his seventh child, was born overnight.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and wife Helen welcomed their seventh child, Celeste, overnight

The Morrison Government has previously announced a $434.7 million joint funding deal to support communities clean up and remove damage and debris.

Grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not for profit organisations devastated by flooding will soon be available through NSW Government agencies.

“We will be there to help farmers, small businesses and every community in New South Wales to get back on their feet as soon as possible when flood waters recede,” the Prime Minister said.

“Farmers will need to restock and rebuild and small businesses will need help replacing damaged goods and shop fronts, and when more support is needed, more support will be given.

“I have already asked the New South Wales Premier to provide my Government with a proposal for a second support package to ensure all communities get the support they need.”

The $1 billion plan is being finalised in a 50:50 split with the Morrison Government ahead of the May budget.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

According to NSW Government insiders, the Premier Dominic Perrottet was working on the plan “until 3am in the morning” only to learn that the Prime Minister wanted to delay the big announcement.

The Prime Minister has pledged to do more to help flood affected areas after he was accused of failing to act fast enough when the natural disaster hit the eastern states.

Flood victims have already been offered “immediate” tax relief and up to $3000 in emergency payments.

George, 85, and Dimitria Volikas, 80, lost all their possessions in last weeks flooding in the western Sydney suburb of Vineyard. Picture: Nikki Short

The Prime Minister was under fire during a visit to the northern NSW town of Lismore last week when he was asked why he had not delivered more aid sooner.

“No amount of support is going to measure up to what people need in a desperate situation like this. I’m just being honest with you,” he said.

“Every federal government would always be apologetic, and would always apologise that you’re never going to be able to provide enough support in these situations … That’s why I do apologise.

“But I can tell you what, we’re going to pull out every stop and every resource to ensure that we meet it as we can.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in Windsor over the weekend. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The $1 billion “back home” program was signed off on by the NSW government in the last 24 hours at an extraordinary meeting of the expenditure review committee.

According to federal sources, it was sent to the Morrison Government on Wednesday morning.

Late last night, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed the $10,000 grants were under “urgent” consideration.

“The NSW Government’s proposal documentation was received this morning by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency and is under urgent consideration by the Commonwealth Government to ensure it meets both governments’ objectives to deliver immediate and longer term relief and support,” a spokesperson said.

“The Commonwealth Government hopes to finalise the details of the additional support very shortly.”