Media Release by The Hon Paul Fletcher MP

Emergency relief funding doubled to $950,000 for eight Townsville organisations

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator for Queensland The Hon Ian Macdonald
    Member for Dawson George Christensen MP
    Liberal National candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson OAM
     

The Liberal National Government will double the emergency relief funding for eight Townsville organisations from the Department of Social Services to help people recover from the devastation of the recent floods. 
 
Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher, said before today, total emergency funding to services in Townsville through the Financial Wellbeing and Capability program was $475,000 in 2019.
 
“This decision means $975,000 will be provided across eight frontline organisations to help them support vulnerable clients in the Townsville area at a time of acute need.”
 
Townsville based Senator for Queensland, Ian Macdonald, has welcomed the boost in emergency funding.
 
“The Government’s priority is to ensure that the appropriate assistance is getting to the right people,” Senator Macdonald said.
 
“I am pleased that the Prime Minister, and so many other Government leaders, have become personally involved in the aftermath of the floods, and have first-hand knowledge of the problems being encountered and the great work our recovery agencies and emergency services have done, and are doing.”
 
Member for Dawson, George Christensen, said the boost to funding would be greatly welcomed.
 
“Any support measures we can undertake to help the people of the Townsville region, particularly the vulnerable who may not have insurance or other assistance measures, will be put to very good use,” Mr Christensen said.
 
“It’s practical and timely and I thank the organisations on the ground for the work they undertake.”
 
Liberal National candidate for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, said the Townsville region had rightly been declared a disaster zone.
 
“We’ve called for more help and the Liberal National Government has responded to Australians in need of real and evident help,” Mr Thompson said.
 
Mr Fletcher said emergency relief services are delivered by frontline community organisations and help people address immediate basic needs in times of crisis.
 
“I would like to thank the eight organisations in Townsville for their tireless work in helping the community,” Mr Fletcher said.
 
“They are Althea Projects Incorporated, Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre, North Townsville Community Hub Inc, Palm Island Community Company, St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, Prospect Community Services Limited, The Trustee for the Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust Redfern and the Coalition on Criminal Assault in the Home (Nq) Inc.
 
“This additional funding is on top of the $57 million in disaster relief payments already announced which will help more than 48,000 people in the region.
“The Government stands with the people of Townsville as they rebuild their communities.”