REGION STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH BUSHFIRE VICTIMS

Riverina residents are responding to the region’s bushfire crisis with overwhelming generosity and kindness for victims and firefighters through offers of free accommodation and meals, care for pets and livestock and shoulders to cry on.

“When they are at their most vulnerable, when they need help the most, bushfire victims are finding the support they need close to home,” said Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack.

Mr McCormack also extended his sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the 47-year-old Goulburn man who lost his life helping a mate near Batlow on Saturday.

Mr McCormack said he had heard many inspiring stories of Riverina residents, businesses and organisations reaching out to help people forced to flee their homes in the Snowy Valleys Local Government Area

“I pay tribute to the Rural Fire Service volunteers who are doing an extraordinary job protecting lives and property in hellish conditions and all those everyday people who are backing up that service by standing shoulder to shoulder with bushfire victims in their hour of need,” Mr McCormack said.

Mr McCormack said the community support included offers of large amounts of food for pets and other small animals being cared for at the Wagga Wagga Showground, people turning up there with towels and water bowls for the animals and motels and other accommodation providers putting up people for free.

Temora Shire Council is compiling a register of residents prepared to provide free emergency accommodation, Charles Sturt University is giving free stabling for horses, Wagga Wagga City Council is offering free access to computers and other services in the library and the Wagga RSL and Commercial Club is offering Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers and their families free meals and drinks, as are a number of other generous local businesses.

“These are just a few examples of the amazing community spirit and mateship I am seeing at this most difficult time,” Mr McCormack said.

“There are hundreds of other cases of people digging in to help their fellow Aussies in distress.

“Thank you everyone.”

Mr McCormack at the weekend visited the Wagga Wagga evacuation centre in the Equex multipurpose stadium and paid tribute to the work being done there to support bushfire victims.

He also visited the animal evacuation centre at the Showground and thanked those who have given up their time to care for pets there.

Mr McCormack said those worst hit by bushfires in the Snowy Valleys and Greater Hume Local Government Areas were among those who now have access to 13 weeks of income support provided through the Federal Government’s Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA).

The allowance is for those who have lost their income as a direct result of the fires, including those who cannot run their business.

People eligible for the DRA can access assistance for up to 13 weeks, equivalent to the rate of Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance.

Claims opened on Friday, 3 January.

For more information or to make a claim visit www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster or call 180 22 66.

Temora residents who wish to billet residents of the Snow Valleys region are encouraged to contact the Visitor Information Manager, Mrs Anne Pike, on (02) 6980 1221.

Temora Shire has also offered other facilities, such as the recreation centre, for those who may need accommodation in the short to medium term.

Mr McCormack said the Federal Government would provide financial support for loss of income to RFS volunteers in NSW who are self-employed or work for small and medium businesses, and who have been called out for more than 10 days this fire season.

This financial support will be tax-free, non means tested payments which are intended to cover for lost income of up to $300 per day, up to a total of $6,000 per person.

Those able to apply for the payments will include farmers, small business owners, tradies and contract workers in rural and regional areas who have been hit especially hard by this fire season.

The payments will be administered by the NSW Government and are expected to be available before the end of January 2020.

Information on how to apply for assistance will be made available soon. RFS volunteers in NSW can register their interest at www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-interest-volunteer-firefighters-financial-support-program.

ENDS