DONATED GOODS GUIDELINES

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister give details on the new national donating guidelines aimed at helping communities when they are most at need?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): I thank the member for Florey for her question. Last Friday I was joined by the federal Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management, Nicola Roxon, to launch new guidelines for the management of donated goods provided in times of crisis. This will ensure that disaster-hit communities receive the help they need when they need it.

The National Guidelines for Managing Donated Goods gives clear and practical advice on effective ways to support people after disaster strikes. The guidelines are designed to help those who wish to help others, advice I know South Australians will appreciate when they are trying to respond quickly to calls for help during and immediately after emergencies. Importantly, they were developed through consultation with people who have suffered from disasters like floods, fires and cyclones. Our own Department for Communities and Social Inclusion led this work and it was of great assistance during the Queensland floods of 2010-11. They were also useful in managing donations for the people of Stockport when that small community suffered flooding.

The guidelines work because they are practical. They take into account the emotional reaction we have when we see others in need and are moved to help in some way as soon as possible. They harness that desire to help and direct it to where it is most needed. They also recognise that some people only have goods to offer and provide suggested alternatives that potential donors may not have considered, like having a garage sale, for example, and donating the funds raised. Without proper coordination, there is a real risk that the goodwill of donors is mis-targeted in ways that may cause more problems than good.

The Port Lincoln bushfires of 2005 highlighted the need for better processes in managing donations. A well-meaning organisation sent out a call for donated goods—blankets, beds; anything to support the victims. This created a lot of goodwill very quickly, but was done without speaking to anyone involved in the recovery effort about how they could best help. What resulted was seven 40-foot containers full of goods not necessarily needed, at a time when local agencies were already dealing with significant donations.

In 2009, the Victorian bushfires led to more than 40,000 pallets of donated goods. This took up more than 50,000 square metres of storage space, twice the area of the MCG. It cost more than $8 million to pay for storage, staff and transport, and stretched resources into areas that could have been better used elsewhere. I want to make it clear that the intention is not to imply that donated goods are never needed or appreciated. The guidelines are about better management and, as I said, getting the right help where and when it is needed.

One participant talked about the perceived obligation to accept second-hand goods. After losing everything and the emotional roller-coaster that followed, they simply wanted to get on with their lives and rebuild with a few new items, rather than feeling obligated to accept goods that they may not have wanted. Under challenging circumstances, the situation can become even more difficult as the focus has the potential to change to managing an influx of donated goods when it should be on getting communities back on their feet. In that respect, harnessing the goodwill of people to send money ensures that support is targeted to where it is needed most.

I commend this document to the house. If members seek further information, it is available from the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion's website.