Tardy Labor Delays Flood Recovery

Liberal Party Victoria
The Allan Labor Government took an average of 214 days to process flood-related claims from local councils, according to the Victorian Auditor General's Office (VAGO).

Lengthy wait-times had the potential to prolong the already painful recovery for both the Maribyrnong and regional communities, a VAGO report released today found.

The watchdog also found Labor could not meet its agreed timeliness benchmarks for assessing flood relief claims - despite them improving over time.

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O'Brien, said the government must do better to support regional communities ravaged by natural disasters.

"At one stage, in May 2023, the average processing time for flood-related claims hit a peak of 429 days," Mr O'Brien said.

"Although it has improved since then, councils are still waiting a long time for funding to help re-build their communities.

"The October 2022 floods were a significant event right across regional Victoria and Maribyrnong and the government needs to be a quick responder in helping with recovery."

Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, said the latest report is the second to be critical of the government's flood response.

A parliamentary inquiry, released in August last year, slammed Labor for its failure to plan, prepare and respond to the October 2022 flood crisis.

"Today's report again underlines Labor's inability to take flood planning and flood response seriously,'' Mr McCurdy said.

"Labor has a terrible habit of failing Victorians during and after flood events. Something has to change - enough is enough."

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