8.2 Current Events
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment
In 2018–19, the department’s response to emergencies included payment of AGDRP claims. This payment was provided to people adversely affected by Tropical Cyclone Debbie, Far North Queensland Floods and northern NSW Bushfires.
Table 45: Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments in 2018‑19
|
2018–19 |
Far North Queensland Floods 2019 |
Northern NSW Bushfires 2019 |
Tropical Cyclone Debbie 2017(a) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Claims finalised |
106,094 |
1,770 |
<5 |
|
Claims paid to affected people |
100,665 |
1,533 |
<5 |
|
Amount paid |
$117,749,400 |
$1,858,400 |
$2,800 |
(a) Payments paid in the 2018-19 financial year.
Disaster Recovery Allowance
The DRA was activated to help individuals, including employees, primary producers and sole traders, in specified areas who experienced a loss of income as a direct result of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, the Far North Queensland floods and northern New South Wales and Tasmanian bushfires.
Table 46: Disaster Recovery Allowance payments in 2018‑19
|
2018–19 |
Far North Queensland Floods 2019 |
Northern NSW Bushfires 2019 |
Tasmanian Bushfires 2019 |
Tropical Cyclone Debbie 2017(a) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Claims finalised |
1,986 |
12 |
94 |
<5 |
|
Claims paid to affected people |
489 |
<5 |
30 |
<5 |
|
Amount paid |
$1,176,193 |
$3,892 |
$107,069 |
$3,481 |
(a) Payments paid in the 2018‑19 financial year.
Ex Gratia Disaster Recovery Payments to New Zealand Non-Protected Special Category Visa Holders
In 2018–19, the department activated the Ex Gratia Disaster Recovery Payment for New Zealand Non-Protected Special Category Visa Holders for individuals affected by Far North Queensland floods and northern New South Wales bushfires. These payments are equivalent to the AGDRP.
At 30 June 2019, the department had:
- received more than 760 claims
- paid more than 710 claims
- paid over $832,000 in total.
The department activated the Ex Gratia Disaster Recovery Allowance for New Zealand Non‑Protected Special Category Visa Holders to help those who suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the Far North Queensland floods. This payment is equivalent to the DRA.
At 30 June 2019, the department had:
- received more than 60 claims
- paid more than 30 claims
- paid over $62,000 in total.
Emergency claim lodgement channel
Table 47: Disaster recovery claims granted, by claiming channel
|
Claiming channel |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Phone |
91 |
74 |
98 |
|
Online |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Paper and in person |
9 |
26 |
2 |
The New Payments Platform delivers payments in real time, 24 hours a day, every day of the year
We don’t choose when crisis strikes. When people are hit by a natural disaster, or are forced from their homes by family violence, the department needs to be able to deliver financial assistance immediately.
The NPP means we can always be there when we’re needed in emergencies, even outside normal banking hours and on public holidays, for customers whose banks are participating in the scheme.
A day or even an hour can make all the difference.
Since the NPP started in October 2018, we’ve delivered thousands of payments to customers in crisis using this new technology. Immediate emergency assistance was needed for customers in Townsville in the aftermath of the February 2019 floods. Hundreds of customers at recovery centres with an account at a participating bank could call our Emergency line and have their disaster relief payment in the bank account before they had ended the call.
In Western Australia, a young customer who was in severe financial hardship visited her local Service Centre late on a Friday afternoon seeking help for herself and her infant child. Our staff member saw her distress, and helped to process her Parenting Payment claim. Through the NPP, we delivered the customer’s full payment to her bank account that Friday, so the family didn’t have to wait until after the weekend.
Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas Payment
The AVTOP provides one‑off help to Australians who were harmed (primary victims) and close family members of a person who died (secondary victims) as a direct result of a declared overseas terrorist act.
The Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas hotline answered 63 calls.
In 2018–19, 15 claims were paid, totalling over $790,000.
Australian Government Emergency Information Line
Table 48: Calls to the Australian Government Emergency Information Line
|
Australian Government Emergency Information Line |
2016–17 |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Calls answered |
59,570(a) |
1,920(a) |
144,110(b) |
(a) Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
(b) Tasmanian bushfires, Far North Queensland floods, northern NSW fires.
National Emergency Call Centre Surge Capability
The department provides support through the National Emergency Call Centre Surge Capability (NECCSC) which allows state and territory government agencies to overflow calls to their emergency (non‑000) lines to the department.
Table 49: National Emergency Call Centre Surge Capability calls taken in 2018–19
|
NECCSC activation |
Tasmanian Bushfires 2019 |
|---|---|
|
Calls answered |
287 |
National Security Hotline
The National Security Hotline is the single point of contact for people to report possible signs of terrorism or to request information.
The department provides surge assistance for the National Security Hotline on request from the Attorney-General’s Department.
In 2018–19 the department was not called upon to assist the National Security Hotline.
Disaster Health Care Assistance Scheme
The Disaster Health Care Assistance Scheme (DHCAS) provides help with reasonable health‑related out‑of‑pocket costs for individuals who have suffered an injury as a direct result of specific international acts of terrorism and natural disaster events.
Under DHCAS, the department administers the following schemes:
- Balimed—bombing in Bali, Indonesia, on 12 October 2002
- Tsunami—Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004
- London—bombing in London, United Kingdom, on 7 July 2005
- Bali 2005—bombing in Bali, Indonesia, on 1 October 2005
- Dahab Egypt—bombing in Dahab, Egypt, on 24 April 2006.
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/services-australia/reporting-year/2018-2019-48