Sunday, 15 February 2009
Kind donations from Victoria, interstate and overseas will help people affected by the bushfires with immediate essentials and medical costs, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the Premier John Brumby and Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Advisory Panel John Landy AC announced today.
Mr Rudd said an average payment of $10,000 would be made available, from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, to families affected by the bushfires to buy essentials, including clothes, toiletries, toys and basic items needed to run a house.
“These payments will be offered to people who have lost their home or who cannot live in their home because it has been made uninhabitable by the bushfires,” Mr Rudd said.
“Thanks to the generosity of people from around Australia and around the world, we can all help people start to recover and rebuild.”
People affected by the bushfires will receive $5000 per household (one adult) plus an additional $2000 per additional adult and $1500 for each child. A family of two adults and two children would receive $10,000.
Mr Brumby said a further grant of $7500 would be made available to help people who have been seriously injured. The grant of $7500 will help people meet medical costs, the costs associated with travel, accommodation and other expenses resulting from the injury.
“Everyone who has donated can be assured their kind donations are going to people who need it most when they need it most. The Victorian Government is paying all administration costs so that every cent donated goes to the people and communities affected by this disaster.” Mr Brumby said.
“It is crucial that these generous donations flow to bushfire affected communities as soon as possible – and I commend the appeal fund advisory panel for its prompt action.”
Mr Landy said the grants would help meet immediate costs and came on top of the $10,000 compassionate and bereavement payments announced earlier for people who have lost a family member to the fires.
“So many people have been enormously generous. We can best repay that generosity by making sure people who need our help receive it as quickly as possible,” Mr Landy said.
“I know every member of the Advisory Panel is focused on meeting the immediate, medium and long term needs of Victorians who have been affected by these tragic bushfires.”
Families can receive further information about this payment by calling 1800 180 213.
As at 8am this morning the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund had raised over $91 million.
