Month: January 2020

With an estimated half a billion native animals killed by the devastating bushfires across Australia, the Greens are calling on the Federal Government to urgently fund a review of the loss of native wildlife and bushfire-specific recovery plans for impacted species.
“The impact the climate fires are having on our precious wildlife is heartbreaking. The scale of the devastation is shocking and is making headlines around the world,” Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“On Kangaroo Island in my home state of South Australia, it’s estimated 25,000 koalas – up to half the Island’s population – has been killed. Grave fears are held for the survival of other endangered species such as the dunnart and rare glossy cockatoo.
“This could be an ecological disaster. An urgent response is required to help those who are injured and suffering and to ensure the best chance of recovery to prevent extinction.
“We are in the midst of an environmental catastrophe. Our wildlife desperately need and deserve action and so do those on the ground working tirelessly to save them.
“The Greens are calling on the Federal Government to urgently fund a review of the loss of native animals and bushfire-specific recovery plans in bushfire-affected areas across the country.
“The Morrison Government must listen to the millions of Australians who care more about clean air, clean water and a safe and liveable environment than they do a political surplus.
“This is a climate emergency. The time for debate is over. We need leadership that delivers the assistance Australians and our wildlife need at this difficult time and a climate policy fit for the crisis we’re in.”
 

The Greens have called on the Prime Minister to establish a ‘Fighting Fund’ for the environment to restore and protect the flora and fauna decimated by the climate fires.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“We are facing half a billion animals lost from these fires right across the country and millions of hectares of habitat destroyed impacting survival and recovery of native species that are left.
“We need a fighting fund to restore the environment.
“The PM needs to commit proper funding to protect those animals that have survived and to restore their habitat. People are rightly asking, ‘where is the Environment Minister?’ The hundreds of volunteers fighting to save injured and homeless wildlife need to know what the Australian Government is going to do to help them.
“It is vital for the tourism of the affected regions whether it’s Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Hills, the South Coast of NSW or East Gippsland and it would be a jobs creator to do it.
“People I spoke to on KI want to invest in rebuilding their Island but it’s not just about bricks and mortar, it’s also about the very thing people come to KI to see – the environment, the habitat of those animals and the pristine wilderness area.
“Once these fires are finally put out and people have started piecing their lives back together, we don’t want the PM’s focus to fall.
“These communities cannot keep bearing the brunt of the climate emergency. Australians want relief and a commitment to rebuild right now, but they also want political leaders to stand up and take action on climate change because we have to adapt, we have to mitigate and we have to be prepared to take those decisions that are going to not make climate change worse.
“The last thing we need is political leaders with their heads buried in the sand. This is the moment we need to use to take the necessary actions and we need to do it now.”

The Federal Environment Minister is missing in action despite reports that more than a billion native animals have been impacted and killed in the catastrophic fires across Australia and millions of hectares of habitat burnt, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“We are in the midst of environmental collapse and the Minister responsible is missing in action. The climate fires have caused an ecological disaster. Entire species may have been wiped out.
“As I’ve met with dozens of dedicated wildlife carers and local community members who’ve been so devastated by these fires, I’ve heard countless firsthand accounts of how these fires and the conditions underpinning it are unprecedented. The habitats that have been so crucial to supporting livelihoods and native wildlife have been entirely wiped out. Pristine wilderness areas that attract tourists and therefore jobs to regional areas have been decimated.
“Where is the Environment Minister? I’m calling on her to come out today and stand up for our environment and threatened species. Our wildlife deserves it, the carers rescuing them deserve it and our communities need it.
“The Federal Government must urgently establish a fighting fund for the environment to save, restore and protect what remains. Our communities rightly need funding for homes and infrastructure but the environment that so many humans and animals depend on, cannot be left as an afterthought.
“The time for funding and action is now, or we may just lose some of our precious wildlife and flora for good.”

The Morrison Government will provide an initial and immediate base payment of $1 million to 42 of the most severely bushfire impacted councils in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland to help quickly rebuild vital infrastructure and strengthen community resilience.
A further $18 million will be set aside to provide additional support to larger council areas which have experienced the most significant damage, with the National Bushfire Recovery Coordinator Andrew Colvin working with state governments and impacted local councils on determining this additional allocation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his Government was committed to working hand in hand with regional communities to rebuild towns and villages.
“These payments will provide immediate assistance directly into the hands of local councils to rebuild roads and infrastructure, employ staff to help in recovery activities and hold events which bring the community together and bring tourists back to town,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are moving immediately to support local councils and our funding will be in state government bank accounts by tomorrow.
“Importantly this is a base payment and just the start of our support for local communities, in what we know will be a long recovery.”
Funding will be directed to councils which have been ‘activated’ by their respective state government for Category C bushfire disaster recovery relief under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Payments will not require matched funding from state governments.
Currently there are 40 councils across Australia in receipt of Category C assistance, including 33 in New South Wales, five in Queensland and two in South Australia (list below).
Funding will also be provided to the Local Government Areas of East Gippsland and Towong in Victoria in recognition of an imminent request from the Victorian Government for Category C assistance for these severely impacted regions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government was backing regional communities to rebuild and recover.
“We have always known regional communities are Australia’s most resilient and in the devastation of these fires we have seen again the remarkable community spirit existing in our regions, said the Deputy Prime Minister.
“The immediate payments to councils will boost affected economies by supporting local small businesses, farmers and trades as they rebuild, restock, replant and recover.”
Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the focus would be on supporting local communities.
“I’ve made it clear this won’t be a Canberra led recovery, it’ll be a locally led recovery and this is our first instalment in that process. We’re empowering local governments to be part of that process today. We’re committed to rebuilding communities but also the lives of those impacted by these devastating fires,” Minister Littleproud said.
All funds will be drawn from the $2 billion allocated to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and this is in addition to funding that is automatically available to councils through other disaster recovery arrangements.
The lump sum payments will be delivered by the Commonwealth by the close of business tomorrow to State Governments who administer payments to councils.
The only condition placed on councils is that they develop a Program of Works within three months and report back to the Commonwealth in 12 months’ time.
Councils will be able to spend their $1 million payments on projects and activities that they deem essential for the recovery and renewal of their communities, including:

• Rebuilding damaged or destroyed council assets such as key local roads, bridges, and community facilities;
• Employing additional local staff to take on specialist recovery or planning roles to help coordinate and plan the rebuilding effort;
• Hosting new public activities and events to bring communities together and attract visitors back to affected regions; and
• Immediate maintenance and repairs to relief and evacuation centres.

Councils to receive assistance

NSW

• Armidale
• Ballina
• Bega Valley
• Bellingen
• Blue Mountains
• Byron
• Central Coast
• Cessnock
• Clarence Valley
• Coffs Harbour
• Eurobodalla
• Glenn Innes Severn
• Hawkesbury
• Inverell
• Kempsey
• Kyogle
• Lismore
• Lithgow
• Mid-Coast
• Mid-Western
• Nambucca
• Port Macquarie-Hastings
• Queanbeyan-Palerang
• Richmond Valley
• Shoalhaven
• Singleton
• Snowy Monaro
• Snowy Valleys
• Tenterfield
• Tweed
• Walcha
• Wingecarribee
• Wollondilly

QLD

• Livingstone
• Noosa
• Scenic Rim
• Southern Downs
• Sunshine Coast

SA

• Adelaide Hills
• Kangaroo Island

VIC

• East Gippsland
• Towong

The Morrison Government will ensure that disaster relief payments being made to individuals and businesses impacted by the devastating bushfires are tax exempt.
This decision will ensure that every dollar that is paid out to affected individuals, businesses and primary producers goes to supporting them during these difficult times and to rebuilding their livelihoods.
Notably, the exemption will extend to payments such as:

• Disaster Recovery Allowance payments made to individuals; and
• payments that would otherwise be taxable under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, such as grants that may be made to small businesses and primary producers.

This follows on from an announcement by the Prime Minister on 29 December 2019 that the payments being made to eligible Rural Fire Service Volunteers will be free from tax.
Legislation to give effect to these changes will be required as was the case to give effect to similar tax exemptions in relation to the North Queensland floods. The legislation will be introduced in the next sitting of Parliament.
This action comes on top of the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) ongoing support, including the automatic deferral of lodgement and payment obligations for individuals and businesses in communities affected by the bushfires.
Further information on the support being provided by the ATO can be found at ato.gov.au/naturaldisasters. Impacted individuals or businesses can also contact the ATO’s Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218.