Pinery Bushfires, Council Fees

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Local Government a question relating to council fees following the Pinery bushfires.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: An issue that has recently been brought to our attention is that, in some instances, local councils are charging victims of the Pinery bushfires, and other naturally occurring events, a development application fee to rebuild structures such as sheds and the like that have been damaged as a result of the bushfires. Although the government and councils have the authority to offer concessions in the amount of fees payable regarding development applications and, indeed, have actually produced press releases to this effect, there have been cases reported to me where the Pinery bushfire victims in particular have been charged at least a $400 application fee when applying to rebuild pre-existing structures, such as a shed in one case and different structures in others. My questions to the minister who represents the Minister for Local Government are:

1. Does the government agree that the development application fee and other associated fees should be waived where possible and where practical for victims of bushfires and other natural disasters if they are rebuilding the same structure?

2. What forms of financial support and concessions is the government providing to these victims?

3. Will the government support statutory amendments that will provide victims of natural disasters such as the Pinery bushfires and other similar events relief from financial hardship and exemption from needless administration fees?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for his questions, and I will refer them to the minister responsible in the other place and bring back a reply.