Victoria knocked back offer for fast-tracked federal funding for flood repairs

Victoria has rejected a federal offer for fast-tracked funding for flooding repairs.

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia will all receive shares in almost $1.8 billion in fast-tracked federal natural disaster payments for local councils. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt’s office told 3AW Mornings an offer for expedited funding was made to Victoria, but the state declined it.

President of the Municipal Association of Victoria, David Clarke, says the fast-tracked offer would mean councils have “actually got the money in their bank account and they can get out and start spending it straight away, as opposed to having to go through the rigorous process of getting all the approval”.

Press PLAY below to hear why the President of the Municipal Association of Victoria thinks the state government rejected the offer

Disaster relief is half funded by the federal government, while the state government foots the other 50 per cent, and Mr Clarke says the Victorian government may have turned down the fast-tracked offer because it means its share will have to be forked out sooner.

“For the communities, this is just diabolical,” he told Heidi Murphy, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

In a statement a Victorian Government spokesperson said the fast-tracked federal funding “has no effect on how quickly money gets to affected communities and we expect to receive the same repayments next financial year.”.

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