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Northe Highlights Need For One Stop Shop Bushfire Help

The Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe has urged the Premier to establish a one stop shop in the Latrobe Valley to assist local residents affected by the bushfires.

By Russell Northe - 21st April 2009 - Back to News

Speaking before Parliament yesterday, Mr Northe said that while enormous support and assistance had been provided to bushfire victims in the wake of Australia’s worst natural disaster, response efforts were being hindered by bureaucracy and red tape.

"There is growing frustration in the Latrobe Valley among those trying to access government grants, programs and the Bushfire Relief funds generously donated by tens of thousands of people and organisations," Mr Northe said.

"My office has received numerous complaints from people having to undertake various enquiries and being directed from one government agency to another."

Mr Northe said locals wanted straight answers and not to be handballed from one department to the next and back again.

"Many locals have suffered untold damage as a consequence of these deliberately lit fires including the loss of ten lives and they need immediate and coordinated help to recover and rebuild," Mr Northe said.

"There are a multitude of Government agencies and organisations involved in the recovery process doing their absolute best in the circumstances however there needs to be a single point of contact for government bushfire information."

"The Premier has stated that ‘case managers’ are fulfilling this crucial task and in some cases this is true, however there are a significant number of people who have outstanding needs that are not being addressed.

"We simply can’t afford to simply let these people slip through the cracks."

Mr Northe said those who have outstanding needs which could not be met by current programs should have their needs recorded and entered into a database for the purpose of being addressed as the recovery phase evolves.

"I call upon the Premier to establish a ‘One Stop Shop in the Latrobe Valley for the purpose of aiding bushfire victims in our region," Mr Northe said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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