Prime Minister Gillard needs to provide answers on when, where and how her government will spend the $500million it committed to flood recovery in Victoria.
“Prime Minister Gillard sadly has been quick off the mark in taxing the Victorian people, including in communities damaged by the January flood waters, but has refused in the last 7-8 weeks to detail how the $500million will be spent,” Mr Tehan said.
“The only reason we know that $500million will be allocated to Victoria is because the Government was forced to reveal this as part of its bargaining to get the flood levy through the Senate.
“On 1 February this year, 14 Mayors wrote to the Gillard Government requesting that it consider an additional or “exceptional” Roads to Recovery funding allocation for flood affected councils to enable them to undertake specific improvements to road and bridge infrastructure to lessen the impact on their local communities and businesses if they were to experience future extreme weather events.
“Shamefully, the Gillard Government has not had the courtesy to reply to the letter written by these 14 Mayors.
“In Question Time today, as the Prime Minister was boasting of how she had managed to cleverly tax Victorians through the flood levy, I asked her to detail her plan for how the $500million promised to Victoria’s flood-devastated regions will be spent.
“This follows a letter I wrote to the Prime Minister on 25 January, asking her to consider a one-off federal government Roads and Bridges to Recovery Payment for Local Government Areas affected by the floods. A letter, like the Mayors, I am still waiting to receive a reply to.
“The flood-devastated communities of Victoria deserve better than this from a Prime Minister who calls our state home. Rather than concentrating on taxing the Victorian people, she should turn her attention to helping them in this time of need.
“If nothing else, the 14 Mayors from these flood-devastated communities deserve a response to their well-considered letter and the Victorian people need to know when, how and where the $500million the government promised will be spent.
Media Contact: Lisa Downs 03 5561 6405 or 0400 192 205
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