Bushfire Recovery Support

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:57): My question is to the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Human Services. Can the Attorney please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting South Australia's recovery from the impacts of the South Australian bushfires?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:58): I do appreciate the question from the member for King. Unquestionably, South Australia had a pretty harsh start this year in the peri-urban and regional districts and the bushfires have devastated a number of those communities. They are still getting on their feet. Then, of course, all of us were hit with the COVID-19 pandemic circumstances.

To give an update to the house, though, as to what has occurred in relation to the generous contribution of others to the State Emergency Relief Fund for support as a result of the bushfire circumstances, I indicate that firstly there was an enormously generous contribution by people across the community and, indeed, across the world in relation to some wildlife funds. As we go through the recovery period, I advise that the State Recovery Office has now been transferred to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. There is obviously a huge economic, social and environmental recovery underway.

As at 12 May 2020, the fund had over $8.6 million that had been donated; 934 applications for assistance have been received; 72 per cent have been approved; 5 per cent were declined, as the application was ineligible, usually because the applicant was outside the fire footprint; and 23 per cent are still being assessed and awaiting a third-party verification from other authorities and agencies. Most of these are within the small business and primary producers, and infrastructure damage categories.

In total, 1,180 payments have been made, totalling almost $4.17 million, with multiple payment rounds made each week. Almost $1 million has been allocated to help rebuild community assets and facilities. Members will appreciate I am sure that a place such as Kangaroo Island is dear to my heart. They have had the devastating impact of the bushfire there, and the importance of the State Emergency Relief Fund shouldn't be underestimated. Minister Lensink has advised, given her concern, that there still may be people eligible for funds who haven't yet submitted applications.

I advise the house, and I am happy to do so, that the SA Bushfire Appeal Community Strength and Resilience Initiative was launched this week on Monday 11 May. Community organisations, sport and social clubs play a vital role and are eligible. That will allow Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills now to apply for grants of up to $20,000 from the SA Bushfire Appeal Fund, and I would urge those who are in that category to do so.

I am aware that one in particular, the Stokes Bay hall and tennis club, has received generous support from donations. The Minister for Sport and Recreation, through his CFS role, has provided finance for the base of a new shed there. I was there last week. They have cleaned up the whole area around the hall, which still has a gaping hole in the back of it, but it needs to have its tennis courts done, and we need to be able to work with them to try to make sure that that can be finalised.

This is a very generous community, but they have all been totally smashed. They fought for weeks fighting everyone else's fire, their houses have been razed to dust and their sheep have been incinerated. They have gone through a shocking time. It's exactly that example that shows we have to do everything we can to make sure that, from whatever fund, they are fully restored to the community and be stronger than before.