The Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has criticised Premier Ben Carroll’s decision to abolish the dedicated Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, saying it sends a clear message that bushfire recovery is no longer a priority for the Labor Government.
As part of his new Ministry announced this week, Premier Carroll removed the standalone Natural Disaster Recovery portfolio, despite many regional communities still recovering from the devastating January bushfires.
Ms Cleeland said the decision fractures the entire emergency and recovery process by dissolving what had become a “no wrong door” policy for disaster-affected Victorians.
“Rather than the standard being a no wrong door approach to support following a disaster, Labor has just slammed the door in the face of victims of disasters,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We have already seen the complications this causes. Following the January bushfires, housing was stripped out of Emergency Management Victoria’s responsibility and handed to DFFH, and as a result we have seen the most dysfunctional and slow housing rollout of the recovery.
“This move also goes against the Royal Commission and the subsequent inquiries undertaken following natural disasters, all of which have called for a coordinated, single point of contact for recovering communities, not a fractured system.”
For bushfire-affected residents across the Euroa electorate, the Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery had become the single ministerial contact responsible for questions about recovery assistance, clean-up programs, grants and ongoing government support.
Ms Cleeland said removing the portfolio leaves recovering communities wondering who was now accountable.
“Premier Carroll said he would lead a different government to his predecessors, and unfortunately he appears to have achieved exactly that, by caring even less about regional Victoria and bushfire recovery,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Just seven months after one of the worst bushfire seasons our region has experienced, Labor has decided a dedicated recovery minister is no longer necessary.
“Families have barely commenced rebuilding their homes, farmers will be restoring their properties for years and communities are still navigating a recovery process that has been nothing short of dysfunctional.
“Throughout this recovery, the Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery was supposed to be the dedicated point of contact for communities seeking answers about grants, clean-up programs and government support. By abolishing the portfolio, the Premier has removed the only clear ministerial responsibility bushfire victims had.
“Regional Victorians can now see that this is the same Labor Government that has abandoned regional Victorians for years.”
Ms Cleeland said the portfolio should have been strengthened, not abolished.
“If the Premier was serious about regional Victoria, he would be increasing the Government’s focus on disaster recovery, not removing the minister responsible for it,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Our communities deserve a government that continues to care long after the cameras have gone. Recovery does not end because a Premier reshuffles the ministry.
“It’s a concerning moment ahead of January and the high fire danger period this summer, when communities need confidence that recovery and response systems are joined up, not fractured further.”
Ms Cleeland called on Premier Carroll to explain who will now be directly accountable for coordinating Victoria’s natural disaster recovery efforts and ensuring bushfire-affected communities receive the support they have been promised.
