In their latest media release the NSW Labor Opposition has called on senior Berejiklian Government Ministers to stop pointing the finger at charities and instead be honest about their own government’s billion-dollar spending promise in bushfire-affected towns.
NSW Labor Leader, Jodi McKay said int he release "The Liberal Member for Bega Andrew Constance, Liberal Emergency Services Minister David Elliot and Deputy Premier John Barilaro have all accused major charities of stockpiling bushfire donations but are yet to reveal how their own government is helping in the recovery effort. "Mr Elliott said his “message to the charities is ‘pull your finger out’” and Mr Barilaro warned charities that their “money must flow today”.
"Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on January 9 that $1 billion would be spent over two years to rebuild bushfire affected communities and described it as an 'immediate source of funding' while Treasurer Dominic Perrottet also said “work would commence without delay” and this money would “fast-track the recovery process”.
"But two weeks on, there is scant detail of what work is underway.
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said that while she agreed all bushfire charity funds should flow to the front line, it was not good enough for the Liberal-National Government to remain tight-lipped about the breakdown of its $1 billion pledge.
“Mr Elliot said it’s not the time for us to delay, well he should stop delaying with the details of his own government’s commitment that fire-ravaged communities are relying on,” Ms McKay said.
“It’s been two weeks since the Government committed $1 billion to help rebuild and repair in the wake of the catastrophic bushfires but we still don’t know many details.”
“I am calling on the Government to stop deflecting and to come clean about its $1 billion dollar pledge.”
