Riverland Flood Response

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:52): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development about the Riverland regional community.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: The Riverland regional community is going through many challenges right now and there are increasing concerns about the floods having significant impact on vulnerable community members. Rental assistance will be available for individuals and families who are not insured who are displaced from their homes by floodwaters and do not have access to alternative accommodation. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the expected total number of individuals and families in the Riverland regional community that will make a claim?

2. What modelling is this based on?

3. How fast can vulnerable residents access the financial assistance, and can the minister indicate an estimated time frame—will it take days or weeks?

4. What measures will the government put in place for those who will miss out on rental accommodation and have nowhere to go?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for her question. I will refer those questions to the relevant minister in the other place, the Minister for Human Services.