NSW bushfires: Financial toll continues to climb

It's impossible to put a figure on the cost of the bushfire crisis so far. But the financial toll continues to climb with fears more property could be destroyed tomorrow.

nsw_fires_aap_131021

(AAP)

Insurance claims from the NSW bushfire emergency have topped $100 million even though assessors haven't been let into the worst-hit regions yet.

The Insurance Council of Australia says about 900 claims worth more than $100 million have been lodged so far.

Some assessors have hit the road, but many areas are still off limits due to the ongoing fire risk, spokesperson Campbell Fuller said.

"This is a horrific thing for many, many families and business to go through," Mr Fuller told AAP.

He said the council had set up in the Springwood Recovery Centre and urged residents to get their claims in immediately to expedite the rebuilding process.

The total surpasses other recent fire emergencies, including the blazes at Dunalley in Tasmania at the start of the year.

Meanwhile, charities and government bodies have rallied to help NSW bushfire victims by raising much-needed funds, offering assistance payments and lifting red tape.
 
The Salvation Army's bushfire appeal has raised $1.2 million and released $500,000 in immediate relief.
 
Salvos staff will available to fire-affected communities for "the long haul", the organisation's Darrell Slater says.

The NSW government has also waived its waste levy for any people cleaning up their homes and businesses after the fires - saving them up to $107 per tonne of waste.

The federal government on Tuesday announced plans to allow people access to 13 weeks of Newstart payments, if they had lost their income because of the bushfires.

Workers, farmers and sole traders affected by the disaster will also be able to access the payments.

This comes on top of 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.

Replacement fees for lost passports have also been waived for bushfire victims.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: SBS


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world