WA bushfires December 2009

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment has been activated to assist those who have been adversely affected by the bushfires that began on 29 December 2009, in the areas of Dandaragan, Coorow, and Toodyay in Western Australia.

Assistance

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment rate is $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child. Claims for this assistance can be lodged at Centrelink until 30 June 2010.

Eligibility Criteria:

A person will be “adversely affected” where:

  1. a person is seriously injured; or
  2. a person’s principal place of residence has been destroyed; or
  3. a person’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage; or
  4. a person is unable to return to their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more; or
  5. a person’s principal place of residence experienced a utility failure for a period of 48 hours or more; or
  6. where a person (the Principal Carer) is the principal carer of a child (the Dependent Child),
    • the Dependent Child is seriously injured; or
    • the Dependent Child’s principal place of residence has been destroyed; or
    • the Dependent Child’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage; or
    • the Dependent Child is unable to return to their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more; or
    • the Dependent Child’s principal place of residence experienced a utility failure for a period of 48 hours or more.

For more information on eligibility or if you have any queries, please contact the Australian Government WA Bushfire Hotline – December 2009 on 180 2266 or visit the Centrelink website.

NB: People who are affected should contact Centrelink for details of payment arrangements over the weekend and public holiday period. People seeking to claim can visit the Toodyay Memorial Hall this weekend at Lot 148, Stirling Terrace Toodyay; or they can call the dedicated WA Bushfires hotline, visit the Centrelink website, or from Monday, visit their local Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

Media Release

Acting Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Gary Gray MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Western Australia - media release.

Additional Assistance

This assistance is in addition to the support being provided by the Australian Government under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) as announced on 30 December 2009 by the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP.

Under the NDRRA funding will be provided in cooperation with the Western Australian Government and includes:

  • Personal hardship and distress (PHD) grants where principal residences have been damaged, based on need. Inquiries can be made to the WA Department of Child Protection on 1800 199 008;
  • Support to local governments in the restoration of essential public infrastructure;
  • Assistance for primary producers, including road and rail freight subsidies and other re-establishment costs. Inquiries can be made to the WA Department of Food and Agriculture on 1800 198 231;
  • Interest rate subsidies for small businesses. Inquiries can be made to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia on (08) 9323 9552 or wandrra@fesa.wa.gov.au.

Further detail can be found in a media release from the Attorney-General Robert McClelland on 31 December 2009.