Month: January 2023

ADDITIONAL DISASTER SUPPORT FOR FLOOD-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Residents and businesses in nine South Australian local government areas are now able to apply for a range of assistance to help them clean up, get back to business and back into homes.

The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments today announced $126.25 million in further disaster assistance for communities hit by the devastating flooding that peaked in Renmark on Boxing Day and is subsequently impacting downriver areas.

The funding for the flood event that started in mid-November 2022 and continues to cause major issues for communities all along the Murray River, is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

A comprehensive range of assistance is available:

  • Property Assessment and Essential Services Reconnection; $10 million to assess damage to primary residential properties including structural damage, electrical infrastructure and reconnection of services.
  • Small Business Recovery Grants: $9.3 million (up to $50,000 per business) to help affected businesses get up and running again.
  • Primary Producer Recovery Grants: $45.9 million (up to $75,000 per producer) for clean-up and reinstatement of the primary producer businesses.
  • Waste Management Program: $60 million for assessment of hazardous waste, including disposal, and other waste management activity.
  • Blackwater: $800,000 to assist with clean-up of large scale fish kills.
  • Legal Assistance: $250,000 for legal assistance for affected people and businesses.

The nine local government areas eligible for funding are Alexandrina Council, Berri Barmera Council, Coorong District Council, District Council of Karoonda East Murray, District Council of Loxton Waikerie, Mid Murray Council, Murray Bridge Council, Pastoral Unincorporated Area and Renmark Paringa Council.

Further measures being provided through a separate funding process include $5 million for a range of activities relating to flood mitigation and recovery for impacted councils, and $250,000 for mentors for rural businesses and financial counselling support for families.

For information about these grants, contact the South Australian Relief hotline on 1800 302 787.

Further information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said

In this time of crisis, the people of South Australia should know that the Federal Government is standing by them ready to help wherever and whenever it is needed.

This assistance will provide invaluable support to residents, farmers and businesses to recover from this flooding disaster.

The quicker we recover, the sooner we can begin investing in mitigation to lessen the impact of events like this in the future.

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas said

We’re still witnessing these floodwaters wreak devastation along the river.

Our river communities have been united, resourceful and courageous through this event.

But we know we have a significant clean-up ahead.

Getting to work quickly will be vitally important for communities to recover and thrive.

That’s why we’ve been working extremely closely with the Commonwealth to help our communities who’ve been so united, resourceful and courageous throughout this event, to not just get back on their feet, but thrive.

I’m pleased today  to be able to announce this additional $126.25 million in funding to help them put recent events in the past, and look to the future.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said

We know it’s going to be a long road to recovery, but this new funding means that people will have access to the immediate, impactful support they need to start to clean up, repair, rebuild and recover.

The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring communities in South Australia are better prepared and can recover quicker from natural disasters.

We will continue to work very closely with the Malinauskas Government to provide assistance and support as and when it’s needed.

Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers on the Taliban’s Ban on Afghan Women Working for National and International NGOs

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union are gravely concerned that the Taliban’s reckless and dangerous order barring female employees of national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the workplace puts at risk millions of Afghans who depend on humanitarian assistance for their survival.  We call on the Taliban to urgently reverse this decision.

Women are absolutely central to humanitarian and basic needs operations.  Unless they participate in aid delivery in Afghanistan, NGOs will be unable to reach the country’s most vulnerable people to provide food, medicine, winterization, and other materials and services they need to live.  This would also affect the humanitarian assistance provided by international organizations, as international organizations utilize NGOs to deliver such materials and services.

The Taliban continue to demonstrate their contempt for the rights, freedoms, and welfare of the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, and their disinterest in normal relations with the international community.

We support the Afghan people’s calls for girls and women to return to work, school, and university, and for women to continue to play essential roles in humanitarian and basic needs assistance delivery, and we urge the Taliban to respect the political, economic, social, and cultural rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

To this end, we are in close contact with the United Nations, who are urging, also on behalf of all international donors, that the Taliban reverse this decision immediately.  This would avoid any disruption and allow the continuation of all humanitarian operations of international and national NGOs.

NSW motorists to cash in on toll relief

Toll relief is on the way for drivers across our state with the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Toll Relief Rebate Scheme open for applications from 24 January. 
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said under the new and improved toll relief initiative, around half a million drivers will be able to claim 40 percent of their toll spend up to $750 a year. 
 
“The new Toll Relief Rebate Scheme will start putting money back into drivers’ bank accounts once they spend $375 a year on tolls,” Mr Kean said.
 
“We’ve more than doubled the number of drivers eligible for toll relief and for the first time, pensioners will be able to claim a rebate while still receiving free car registration.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the new toll relief scheme will make traveling more affordable particularly for those in West and South West Sydney.
 
“Drivers from Casula to Liverpool, Rouse Hill and Campbelltown will be the big winners, but everyone across New South Wales will have the chance to cash in on the new Toll Relief Rebate Scheme,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“This is about putting more cash into the pockets of hardworking NSW families at a time when they are feeling the pinch from cost of living pressures. 
 
“We’re making sure everyone gets the chance to use our world class motorway network which saves families precious time, gets tradies to more jobs and creates a safer journey for all.”
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the new scheme will be administered through Service NSW and payments would start flowing into bank accounts within days. 
 
“This is just one of 70 cost of living rebates on offer from the NSW Liberal and National Government, which is adding money to household budgets across the state,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Eligible customers can log into their Service NSW account, link to their toll account before lodging their toll relief rebate claim. And there will always be the option to go into, or call, a Service NSW Centre for assistance. Claims will then be paid directly into their nominated bank account. 
 
“Start the New Year right by boosting your household budget through Service NSW. You can assess your eligibility for the rebates by using the Savings Finder tool or booking an appointment with a Saving Specialist.”
 
Rebates will be backdated to 1 July 2022 and payments will start to flow from within days of applications being received.
 
For more details on the new Toll Relief Scheme please visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/new-toll-relief-scheme-faqs

Three teenagers charged following serious assault – Lake Macquarie 

Three teenagers have been charged after another teen suffered serious injuries in an alleged assault in Lake Macquarie overnight.

About 12.10am (Sunday 1 January 2023), emergency services were called to Ocean Street, Dudley, following reports of an assault.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and were told a 16-year-old boy had been struck to the head with a glass bottle, suffering serious lacerations.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter hospital in a critical condition, where he remains in an induced coma.

A crime scene was established, and police have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Two males, aged 17 and 16, were arrested nearby and taken to Belmont Police Station.

Another 17-year-old male was arrested at Belmont Police Station a short time later.

All three males have been charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company, and reckless wounding in company, and were refused bail to appear in Children’s Court today (Sunday 1 January 2023).