Lismore MP Janelle Saffin says she wants the Prime Minister to deliver funding for a house raising and buyback program for the Northern Rivers, as he's done for Queensland.
"We have seen the announcement today of a $740 million joint Commonwealth-State package to help Queenslanders rebuild, raise or sell homes damaged in the recent floods," Ms Saffin said.
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"This National Disaster in our region is comparable with the devastation of Cyclone Tracy. It calls for an all of government response to address the rebuilding job ahead.
"Our communities are traumatised by the disaster and re-traumatised by the lack of coordinated recovery and rebuilding efforts."
The Prime Minister's announcement comes after criticism was levelled at his government last week for being "too slow" in honouring a pledge to match housing funding for flood impacted people on the Northern Rivers.
Earlier this week, the Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the State Government could not wait any longer for the Federal Government to match funding, announcing a $112 million scheme to help people get back into their homes as soon as possible.
"I was lobbying last year for funding for local government flood projects in my area because the Australian Government's grant guidelines inexplicably excluded Lismore City and Tweed Shire as priority locations for flood assistance," Ms Saffin said.
"The Lismore City, Tweed Shire and Kyogle Shire councils had flood priority projects ready to go, including flood mitigation works, house purchase, house raising and land swaps.
"Since the February 28 flood councils have been updating these projects. The funding is beyond anything that councils can afford.
"I hope the Commonwealth is working with the State Government now on a joint package for the Northern Rivers, as has been done for Queensland.
"I stress again the need for a Reconstruction Commission to oversee the flood recovery, with one chain of command, inclusive of all levels of government, stakeholders and community.
"The recovery can't keep being done announcement by announcement, agency by agency.
"I hope to see a funding announcement soon for rebuilding, house raising, buy back and land swaps appropriate to our needs".
