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Liberals To Boost Natural Disaster AssistanceA Liberal Government will establish a Natural Disaster Assistance Unit to better assist victims of bushfires and other disasters, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today. By Phillip Davis - 28th August 2006 - Back to News Mr Davis said more could be done to assist bushfire and natural disaster victims, including the more effective allocation of funds to household assistance, fence replacement and emergency feeding of livestock.
"A natural disaster brings with it chaos, confusion and disarray," Mr Davis said.
"The co-ordination and delivery of natural disaster relief assistance and adjustment programs for country industries should be the responsibility of one Government agency.
"Disaster assistance programs would be better co-ordinated by a central unit within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC).
"In times of natural disaster, victims need immediate and direct assistance.
"A Liberal Government will establish a specific Natural Disaster Unit to ensure assistance is faster and more effective."
Mr Davis said a Liberal Government would also deliver on the Bracks Government’s broken promise to cover half the cost of boundary fencing.
"Labor was elected in 1999 on the platform that it would contribute half the cost of constructing or repairing a dividing fence between Crown land and private property which is destroyed or damaged by a natural disaster.[1]
"Yet soon after being re-elected in 2002, the Bracks Government abandoned the victims of the devastating Alpine fires and refused to assist in the replacement of thousands of kilometers of boundary fencing.
"A Liberal Government will rectify this situation and fully commits to meeting half the cost of constructing or repairing a dividing fence between Crown land and private property which is destroyed or damaged by a natural disaster, when the cost of replacement is not otherwise recoverable.
"Furthermore, where a bushfire on Crown land is controlled from adjacent private land, the affected landholder will be fully compensated for any property loss.
"A Liberal Government will not abandon country Victorians when they need us most – we will improve the emergency assistance available in times of natural disaster to get Victorians back on their feet sooner," Mr Davis said.
[1] World Class and Green: Labor’s Agriculture Policy 1999.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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