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Newstart payments for bushfire victims

The federal government says it will provide Newstart payments to people whose income have been affected in the fires.

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Source: AAP


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People who have lost income because of the NSW bushfires will be able to access 13 weeks of Newstart payments, the federal government has announced.

The disaster recovery allowance will be made available to workers, farmers and sole traders affected by the disaster.

"If you can't go to work because the business in which you work has been affected by these fires, you're the sort of person who falls into that category," Human Services Minister Marise Payne told reporters at Springwood, in the Blue Mountains.

The same applied to primary producers and sole traders whose business has been damaged.

Senator Payne said the payments could be accessed at local Centrelink offices, recovery centres, online or by calling the Disaster Recovery Assistance Hotline 180 22 66.

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The assistance comes on top of the recently announced Disaster Recovery Payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child, made available to victims who have been injured or had their homes damaged or destroyed in the fires.


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