Red tape is making it near-impossible for some bushfire victims to access much-needed funds. 9News
"I can't cope with it. I mean, it is $1,000. While that might be helpful for some people who lost goods, like freezers, it doesn't do much here," Ms Harvey added, as she stood in the middle of her destroyed property.
"I guess I don't understand why we can't just look at rates, notices, and houses that are obviously registered as wrecked and get our payments," she said.In the end, it took Ms Harvey four attempts before she was finally able to access the emergency relief fund. "I was almost about to not answer the phone because what they were after were bank account details that I held 25 years ago. I don't know my bank details now, let alone 25 years ago. I've got a driver's licence, I rescued that, some people don't. And I can't see how they're ever going to get that money. It's not that much in the big scheme of what's happening out here," she said. Ms Harvey has been staying the ruins of her burnt kangaroo sanctuary to help the survivors that are left. She has no water, no power, and said all she wants is help from the government."We've lost two-thirds of our wildlife population here. The only way they are going to survive is if I stay to help them. So that's what I'm doing, because the wildlife here have been decimated. "The NSW south coast is the only area where commercial slaughter doesn't happen. And now we've lost our wild population too. So, it's my responsibility to get out there and care for the survivors. "I would like to have a shower. I would like some support from the government… and I would like them to stop the commercial slaughter of kangaroos until this is sorted out. I don't care about my house. Just save the wildlife." Ms Harvey's comments came after it was announced more local councils are expected to get $1 million federal government grants as the scale of bushfire damage comes to light. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Darren Chester MP tour the Wildflower farm owned by Paul and Melissa Churchman on January 3, 2020 in Sarsfield, Victoria, Australia. Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud and the head of the newly-established bushfire recovery agency, Andrew Colvin, have already given 33 councils a hand."This is about helping the community rebuild as a community, coming together and empowering our local council to understand and know how to do that best," he said.Wildlife that survived the bushfire in Wollemi National Park in Sydney graze for food, Sunday, November 17, 2019. He has also telegraphed further funding announcements for South Australia, hinting at a deal between the federal and state governments. It comes as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he's unsure if the government will deliver a budget surplus, as the nation counts the cost of the bushfire crisis. The Morrison government has flagged it is prepared to sacrifice the much-hyped surplus as it responds to the deadly fires ravaging swathes of eastern Australia. There's a $2 billion federal relief kitty on the table, with $500 million expected to be spent this financial year.
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