Question details
Northern Victoria Region
(2334) My question is for the Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery. Will the minister take immediate action to provide proper housing support to those affected by the 2026 summer bushfires? After the Black Saturday fires and the October 2022 floods there was a big effort to ensure that people in immediate need got housing, so over the past few weeks it has been extremely disappointing to hear from residents in the Longwood and Harcourt fire zones that the government has failed to provide an adequate housing response for people who lost their homes in the 2026 summer fires. Some dilapidated caravans have been donated, but there has been nothing substantial from the government to support people who have lost everything. It is vital that after a disaster housing is provided that allows families to remain present and connected in their communities as they recover and enables children to stay in their local schools. The Allan Labor government has let these people down, and I call on the minister to take immediate action to fix this.
I thank the Member for their question.
From when the fires first started, the Allan Labor Government moved quickly to provide emergency accommodation for those affected by the fires, and we’re now delivering longer-term housing solutions to support bushfire-affected Victorians continue to have a safe place to stay, where they chose to stay.
Along with the Commonwealth, we have delivered more than $420 million to help bushfire-affected Victorians pick up the pieces following these devastating fires, including support with rent, social housing and nearly $33 million to provide more than 100 temporary modular homes for people without adequate insurance whose homes were significantly damaged or destroyed.
These homes are an important part of a range of temporary housing options available for those in need and are being delivered and installed in fire affected communities right now.
Vicki Ward MP
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery
Minister for Equality
Minister for Creative Industries