Advertisement

Labor calls for fair payments

Hundreds of families affected by the Perth Hills bushfires will be denied disaster relief payments after the Abbott Government tightened eligibility, Federal Labor claims.

The Opposition has urged the Government to reverse its decision and help out families forced to flee the flames.

But Attorney-General George Brandis last night accused Labor of politicising the bushfires.

The one-off payments are $1000 for each adult and $400 for each child, and can begin to flow when the Federal Government declares an area disaster affected.

In previous disasters, including the Perth Hills fires in 2011, those who for at least 24 hours had been unable to return to their home, had been stranded in their home or there was no access to their home because of a major disaster were able to claim disaster recovery payments.

People were also eligible if their home had been cut off from electricity, water, gas, sewerage services or another essential service for a continuous 48 hours - a measure designed to help those who might have to throw out food stored in a fridge.

The new rules were imposed for the first time when bushfires hit NSW in October and have since applied to the victims of this week's bushfires in Mundaring Shire.

Eligibility for the payments is now limited to people who are seriously injured, have an immediate family member killed, their main home has been destroyed or had major damage, or if the person is the principal of a child eligible under this criteria.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused the Government of short-changing hundreds of families, including those who were forced to evacuate.

"The Abbott Government must restore the same disaster payment criteria used for previous natural disasters," he said.

"These fires have caused significant hardship for many families in the Perth Hills and it's critical they have access to appropriate support.

"Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss must intervene to ensure this decision is urgently reversed and assistance is provided where it's needed."

Senator Brandis said Labor's claims were wrong.

"The coalition Government is operating under the same legislation that the previous government did," he said. "We are focused on assisting those who have been the most affected by the bushfires."