Emergency financial relief has been extended to flood victims in Western Australia and the Northern Territory as governments respond to “unprecedented” flooding that has inundated roads and left towns and communities isolated.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Monday pledged the commonwealth would provide any support the WA and NT governments required, as the Kimberley continued to grapple with “once-in-a-century” flooding after ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie.
The WA regions of Derby West Kimberley, Broome, Wyndham East Kimberley and Halls Creek, and the NT’s Victoria Daly area, are eligible for help through the joint commonwealth-state disaster recovery funding arrangements. Under that program, state governments choose and deliver recovery options, which are then reimbursed by the commonwealth.
Such costs can include hardship and distress payments, assistance for those whose homes or belongings have been damaged, and support for councils and residents to clean up and restore public assets.
Albanese told Perth 6PR radio this would include assistance with temporary living expenses, $10,000 grants for housing replacements and repairs, and $10,000 for replacing essential items. He said he expected the total bill for recovery and repair to be “very large”, including rebuilding inundated roads.
“My government is committed to providing whatever support we can, in partnership with the WA government, but also local government, working with communities to make sure the rebuilding occurs as quickly as possible,” Albanese said.
People left out of work because of the disaster in Victoria Daly, Broome, Derby West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham East Kimberley are now also eligible for the disaster recovery allowance, a taxable fortnightly payment for up to 13 weeks. .
Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie moved through the NT and WA in the last week of December, with up to 500mm of rain falling across the Kimberley and record flooding along the Fitzroy River.
The emergency management minister, Murray Watt, said defence force aircrafts and troops were in the area assisting with relocation and supply efforts, including helicopters and cargo planes.
After arriving in Broome last night, Watt tweeted about the “phenomenal” amount of flooding.
“This sheer amount of water that is flowing through the region is just staggering and the impact this is having on these communities is immense,” he said.
Albanese and Watt will visit flooded communities in WA on Monday.
The WA premier, Mark McGowan, called the Kimberley flooding “unprecedented” and “devastating”, warning recovery efforts would take time.
“This is a once-in-a-century event so the state and federal governments will work for as long as it takes to ensure communities recover and rebuild,” he said.
Just landed in Broome, which is surrounded by a phenomenal amount of water. Great Northern Hwy cut off - the road that connects Nth Aus. On the ground tomorrow to hear what more we can do to help these communities recover. #kimberleyfloods pic.twitter.com/2bekOqf0d5
— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) January 8, 2023
McGowan tweeted that the floods were the worst WA had ever seen and advised victims that federal assistance payments could help with emergency assistance, temporary living expenses, replacement of essential household goods, housing repairs, and personal and financial counselling.
Watt and the government services minister, Bill Shorten, said in a statement that people seeking assistance can claim online through myGov.
The floods in the Kimberley have caused significant destruction to community infrastructure and homes.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) January 8, 2023
They are the worst WA has ever seen. pic.twitter.com/XEdESeTLTy
Shorten said Services Australia staff were already on the ground in the affected areas, and more will be on the way when it is safe to do so.
Geoff Haerewa, president of the Derby shire council, said it had been difficult to assess damage to properties and homes.
“We honestly don’t know because we haven’t been able to get out to a lot of places that have been impacted,” he told 6PR.
Haerewa feared “devastating” losses of livestock, citing reports of dead cattle being washed up around the region. He said he felt authorities could have done “a lot more” to prepare for the flooding, but he was satisfied with the response efforts.
