Received from Senator Sue Boyce:
NOT WATER DAMAGED BUT … DOES THE GOVERNMENT GET IT?
There’s been a terrible equity to the damage wrought by water in Queensland.
It’s not just those areas that were directly damaged – some like Condamine Dalby and Bundaberg up to three times. Every corner of the State every sector of the State every person in the State has been affected in some way. And if we are to recover the Federal and State Governments MUST acknowledge this.
Whilst the loss of lives – in the most tragic of circumstances – and the loss of homes are the most serious and most obvious consequences the important lesson we must learn to ensure Queensland’s long-term recovery is that YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE FLOOD OR CYCLONE “DAMAGED” TO BE AFFECTED.
I don’t know one business including agribusiness in Queensland that hasn’t been affected. And some of those without flood or cyclone “damage” have the potential to fare just as badly as those businesses that went under.
Every businessperson can tell of stock lost and business disrupted by power and phone cuts; of one or more customers who have gone broke owing money; of staff they just can’t afford; of suppliers who can’t supply; of supply routes cut; of delivery companies that can’t deliver.
One Rocklea businesswoman who runs a fireworks events company summed it up: “I didn’t have water through the premises but I’ve had dozens and dozens of cancellations since Christmas. My business may not be flood damaged but it’s certainly flood affected.”
As Federal Parliament resumes we MUST get the message across.
What these damaged communities need is not another tax or levy.
The Coalition is committed to doing everything necessary to rebuild communities hit by floods and Cyclone Yasi this summer without Labor’s new tax.
Like a well managed household or business when unseen events change financial circumstances or outlook we tighten our belts and re prioritise our spending plans.