Detail that could cost victims flood disaster payment
A loophole in the Federal Government’s disaster payments for victims of the floods that thrashed Queensland and NSW means thousands of people face being knocked back.
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Thousands of flood-ravaged residents face being knocked back for federal disaster payments because they live in a Queenslander-style house.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week announced southeast Queensland and NSW residents hit by the devastating floods would be eligible for one-off disaster payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for children.
But a loophole, exposed by Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt, reveals the downstairs areas of flooded Queenslanders will not be covered by payments.
Eligibility documents state that to receive the money, a person’s principal place of residence must have sustained ‘major damage’ from the flooding.
“The principal place of residence includes all rooms which are fully enclosed and under a common roof space,” the criteria states.
“This means the underneath part of ‘Queenslander-style’ homes is not included as part of the residence as it is not an enclosed room/area.”
Free-standing garages and pergolas and common areas in unit complexes such as carparks and basements are also not eligible for the disaster payments, according to the documents.
Senator Watt said this meant thousands of southeast Queenslanders, including many in Brisbane, faced missing out on the payments.
“We’re not just talking about massive Queenslander-style mansions in Chelmer,” he said.
“There are many modest Queenslander-style homes in Brisbane, especially near the river, as well as in other parts of the southeast.
“Many residents living in these homes had furniture and other valuables downstairs which would have been destroyed in the floods. But under the eligibility criteria, unless the water reached the top floor, they will miss out on the disaster payments.
“It just goes to show how out of touch the Morrison Government is with living in the Sunshine State.”
Senator Watt said those whose cars or tools were destroyed in garages or basement carparks would also miss out.
He said the former Abbott Government had tightened the rules for disaster payments after the 2011 floods.
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