The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Member for New England

Media Release

20 November 2023

MINISTER WATT SNUBS THE NEW ENGLAND FIRE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES

To date, four homes and twenty-one buildings have been confirmed destroyed and around 43,000 hectares of land was burnt in the northern part of the New England electorate, in the Tenterfield LGA.  Many residents continue to be without essentials such as fresh drinking water as fire both contaminated and destroyed infrastructure such as tanks and pipes. 

I am calling on Minister Watt for the Local Government Area (LGA) of Tenterfield to be recognised as being directly affected by natural disaster, following the recent fires, to allow residents to receive direct Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments and the Disaster Recovery Allowance administered though Services Australia.

The lack of action and response to date regarding the welfare of the people of northern New England is unacceptable.

The township of Wallangarra/Jennings is divided by the Queensland/New South Wales border, therefore leaving a discrepancy in only allowing those residing in Queensland being eligible for direct Federal Government assistance, essentially resulting in having assistance determined on the basis of which side of the street someone is on.

Due to the lack of direct assistance, many residents severely affected by this natural disaster have turned to charities such as the Salvation Army to receive vouchers for food and fuel.

I urgently call on Minister Watt to assist the residents of the Tenterfield LGA in gaining access to the necessary support through Services Australia as soon as possible.

Media Contact: Heidi Williamson

0436 807 792