NSW Disaster Agency Introduced Amid Floods

The New South Wales (NSW) government will introduce legislation to create a recommended rehabilitation authority as the state suffers from ongoing flooding.

Prime Minister Dominic Perrotet said the permanent agency will be dedicated to disaster preparedness and recovery and reconstruction efforts in New South Wales.

“Communities across New South Wales need to be prepared for natural disasters,” said Perrotet.

“This is also about ensuring that communities get the support they need to get back on their feet after a disaster strikes.”

The Reconstruction Authority will be the primary agency for disaster prevention in NSW.

Deputy Prime Minister Paul Tour said it would improve natural disaster management.

“This will enable us to have leading authority in times of crisis, assist in rapid funding, reduce paperwork for planning approvals, and provide on-the-ground access to community information. We will quickly track critical support to disaster-hit communities during the most difficult times,” Tool said.

The government’s response to a House of Councilors inquiry into the massive flooding is also due on Wednesday.

Another review was conducted for the government by former chief scientist Mary O’Kane and former police commissioner Mick Fuller, who recommended the creation of a Reconstruction Authority with legislation to be introduced this year.

Both reviews and surveys criticized Resilience NSW created after the 2019-20 Black Summer wildfires.

Also on the government’s parliamentary agenda is a series of housing policies that Congress will try to pass before the year ends and politicians go into campaign mode for state elections in March.

Helping NSW Government, teachers, nurses and police to own their own homes

The government had some success on Tuesday, passing a stock-sharing scheme aimed at helping teachers, nurses, police, single parents and older singles own up to $950,000 worth of housing. did.

The government will offer eligible buyers up to 40% equity shares in new homes and up to 30% equity shares in existing homes.

These buyers can take out a smaller loan with a smaller down payment, making repayment less burdensome.

Up to 6,000 buyers will only require a 2% deposit under the scheme, which will be piloted for two years.

But the prime minister’s request to start a trial in January that would allow first-time homebuyers to avoid the stamp duty and opt instead for an ongoing land tax was met with further delays from both the Greens and Labor. faced.

The Green Party submitted an amendment to suspend the system from starting until after the election.

Labor has already pledged to scrap the plan if it starts before then and gains power afterwards.

Finance Minister Damian Tudehope introduced the bill to the Senate on Tuesday and submitted a related public interest statement.

“It’s completely unnecessary because the bill’s public significance is completely self-evident,” Tudehope said.

Labor’s John Graham was unimpressed by the length of the statement.

“It was one page… one side,” he said.

“Sometimes being concise is a good thing,” said Education Minister Sarah Mitchell.

The Senate was scheduled to debate the bill until late Tuesday night.