Media Release
Australian Government Drought bus on its way to help Mackay flood victims
19 February 2008
The Australian Government’s Murray- Darling Drought Bus will be sent to flood-affected Mackay to ensure local residents have access to Centrelink assistance and support, Minister for Human Services, Queensland Senator Joe Ludwig said.
“I went to Mackay on Saturday with the Premier of Queensland to survey the extent of the damage first hand and it was heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the floods. The Australian Government has decided to send in extra resources such as the Drought Bus to assist Mackay residents.
The Bus will arrive in the Mackay region on Thursday (21 February), and will remain in the area for at least a week.
The Drought Bus proved its versatility during the recent Charleville and Emerald floods, when it toured the region to provide assistance to hundreds of people in need.
“It’s important that people have access to support - whether they be in flood or drought. I’m pleased to say the Drought Bus, which is a mobile Centrelink office and communications centre with specialist staff on board, will be providing emergency assistance to Queenslanders affected by flooding in Mackay.”
On Sunday, the Prime Minister announced the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be made available to provide additional assistance to people adversely affected by the Mackay floods.
“This one-off payment of $1000 per adult and $400 for each child provides immediate financial assistance to people whose principal place of residence has been destroyed or significantly damaged, as well as those who have been seriously injured and hospitalised for more than 48 hours as a direct result of the floods,” said Senator Ludwig.
“These payments are in addition to the emergency relief available from the Queensland Government and I’d strongly encourage anyone who believes they may be eligible to contact Centrelink as soon as possible.
“People should not self assess – they should contact Centrelink to see if they are eligible for assistance by phoning 180 2333 between 8am – 8pm seven days a week, by visiting their local Centrelink office or one of the recovery centres. They can also visit the Drought Bus from Thursday onwards,” Senator Ludwig said.
Local Member for Dawson, James Bidgood has been on the ground in Mackay supporting the local recovery efforts. Additional Centrelink staff have been sent to the area and are now working alongside Queensland Government and community agencies in Community Recovery Centres to support people impacted by the flooding.
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