Northern Rivers residents impacted by the devastating 2022 floods have been left short-changed following last week’s state budget claim Nationals MPs with no sign that the Resilient Homes Program RHP will be fully funded.

Member for Clarence Richie Williamson and by Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said the budget provides little certainty forward and was a cruel blow to the flood impacted residents still trying to rebuild their lives.

“The State Budget identifies $150 million to ‘address natural disasters’ in the Northern Rivers and Central West, but that is well short of the $700 million previously promised under tranche two of the RHP,” the MPs said.

“It is nowhere near enough what’s required, and we are deeply disappointed for the communities of the Northern Rivers that Labor has failed to fund the remainder of the RHP.”

In June when Premier Minns met with Mr Williamson, Mr Provest, Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Member for Ballina Tamara Smith and Northern Rivers Mayors, the Premier gave an undertaking that there would be a reset on the recovery, and he would come back with a better plan.

“There is no sign of this promise in the Budget and Northern Rivers communities have every right to feel let down,” the MPs said.

Mr Williamson said the people of the Northern Rivers have every right to feel short-changed.

“There was an expectation round two of the RHP would be funded in the Budget and it is not,” Mr Williamson said.

“Labor had every opportunity to show some heart and make the right choice here and it chose not to. 

“It’s a completely unacceptable outcome and it’s left a bitter taste in my mouth, so I can only imagine how flood ravaged communities are feeling.

“Some 18 months on there is still not certainly in sight moving forward for many, and I share their pain.”

In a further blow, the Federal Labor Government and the NSW Labor Government seem unwilling to enter a partnership and provide the cash needed to help communities recover and rebuild.

“There is no indication the Albanese Government is even interested in partnering with the State so the thousands of people desperately waiting for support have some certainty moving forward,” the MPs said.

“It was always a Commonwealth/State arrangement to fund tranche two of the RHP and they need to come to the table.

“We will not give up the fight to get the support that is required to help Northern Rivers communities recover and rebuild.”