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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-03-03 Daily Xml
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Bushfire Recovery

In reply to the Hon. M.C. PARNELL (6 February 2020).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been provided the following advice:

1. The Department for Environment and Water has a $20,000 excess in relation to any bushfire event.

2. The South Australian government self-insurance arrangements only apply to assets owned by government agencies or for which they have a responsibility to insure. As Friends of Parks groups are separately incorporated groups, property which they own is not covered under these arrangements and should be insured by the groups.

Groups in affected areas may also be eligible for a 'Non-profit Organisation Grant', which is an assistance measure made under agreement between the commonwealth and South Australian governments.

3. Insurance assessors were appointed by SAFA in early January and visited the affected areas as soon as it was deemed safe to do so. Due to size and nature of Flinders Chase National Park it may take some time to understand the full extent of the loss, but the assessors are working very closely with the affected agencies to ensure that all losses arising from the fire are identified and included in the insurance claim.

It is anticipated that the assessors will provide their first report in mid-March and this will give a firmer idea of the extent of the insured losses. Agencies have been advised to speak with their Department of Treasury and Finance account manager in respect of uninsured losses.

4. For insured losses, SAFA as the captive insurer for the government has sufficient reserves to settle expected claims with affected agencies. Progress payments will be made as lost/damaged infrastructure is assessed and replacement/repair costs are substantiated. SAFA and the assessors will work with agencies to prioritise payments as expeditiously as possible.

Should agencies require funding in advance of insurance payments or the budget process, additional expenditure can be approved by cabinet.


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