Bushfire recovery
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:32): My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, right now regional communities across the state are facing the enormous cost of rebuilding after apocalyptic bushfires and devastating floods. For them the climate crisis is now the cost-of-living crisis, yet in its response to the parliamentary inquiry into climate resilience the government has rejected a recommendation for a dedicated resilient homes fund in Victoria. New South Wales and Queensland have already signed on to the Commonwealth government’s $1.6 billion fund to help devastated households raze, demolish, rebuild and relocate their homes. Treasurer, why has Labor rejected the Commonwealth’s offer to create a joint resilient homes fund for Victoria?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:33): I thank Ms Copsey for her question. It is probably not something that I would direct specifically to the Treasurer, because it is more about policy decisions in relation to recovery. But obviously after these devastating bushfires we have announced a number of initiatives, and we work hand in glove with the federal government in relation to that under the DRFA framework. A lot of that is in relation to immediate support, medium-term support and obviously long-term support. In particular you have identified rebuilding housing, obviously wanting to make sure – particularly in the areas where there is high expectation of things happening in the future, which unfortunately is most of regional Victoria – that those are built back to a standard that is more resilient in the future. These are policies that are obviously often a feature of discussions of helping communities recover, and they will continue to be so.
Your specific question about the buyback discussion with the federal government is not best placed to the Treasurer. It would be best placed to the Minister for Emergency Services in the way that you have framed your question. I am more than happy to take you through a range of the initiatives that we have announced. There will be further announcements in relation to recovery, as was a feature of nearly everybody’s contribution on Tuesday as we acknowledged the impact of the fires. Everyone acknowledged, I think in this room, that recovery has a long tail, and there is a commitment of this government to continue to work with communities and to work with the federal government on the best initiatives to ensure that that recovery is as quick and as secure for the long term as possible.
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:35): Treasurer, the inquiry also heard calls for a dedicated new climate adaptation fund for high-risk communities, as you have suggested is needed, to proactively adapt to the climate crisis and fund local resilience projects like new nature corridors, drought proofing and community education and awareness. Groups like Doctors for the Environment Australia said this should be funded by big polluters and it could be raised at the state level by revoking fossil fuel subsidies and instituting a tax on polluting coal and gas companies. Labor’s response only said:
There is a range of Victorian Government funding programs to local government, often with specific or dedicated purposes and criteria aligned with respective portfolios.
There is provision to include funding toward climate resilience adaptation activities for infrastructure where appropriate.
Treasurer, the climate disaster has already cost Victoria more than $2.7 billion annually. Why is Labor rejecting calls to properly invest in climate adaptation infrastructure and make the big polluters pay?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:36): Ms Copsey, there are broad-ranging topics that you have pointed to in your supplementary question. I think that you have quoted the government’s response, which is indeed certainly not closing our mind to some of the ideas that have been put on the table. We obviously have a strong climate change agenda in our government. We are investing in renewables. We are talking about communities and about climate adaptation. These are conversations that I had in previous portfolios, whether it be the agricultural portfolio in particular. Government is always working in partnership with a range of stakeholders on these important issues, including your political party.