Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has questioned the Premier in Parliament on why bushfire victims in some municipalities are falling through the cracks.
Communities across the south of the Mildura electorate have endured multiple fires since December, with more than 2,800 hectares burned, including the Jeffcott fire on 18 December, which destroyed a family home, numerous outbuildings, and impacted at least 15 farms.
“Yes, the damage is much smaller than it was in the catastrophic fires in January, but the impact felt by those property owners is no less,” Ms Benham said.
“These families remain unable to obtain assistance simply because their fire occurred before the January disaster declaration.”
“Limiting bushfire disaster declarations to certain dates and events leaves local councils and landowners to shoulder the impact themselves,” Ms Benham said.
“For a small council like Buloke Shire, managing recovery is both costly and resource intensive. They are still waiting on flood recovery support from the state government to fix public roads and infrastructure also.”
Ms. Benham said the current approach meant many families and farmers who suffer losses outside declared disaster dates miss out on essential support.
Image: CFA Media
