Northern Rivers Flood Recovery

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (11:36:36):

My question is directed to the Minister for Finance. As part of the Minister's line-by-line comprehensive expenditure review in considering the Northern Rivers buyback scheme, when will those whose flood-impacted homes could be eligible for buyback in the second tranche of funding be advised that this funding is proceeding?

The Hon. COURTNEY HOUSSOS (Minister for Finance, and Minister for Natural Resources) (11:37:13):

I welcome a question relating to the comprehensive expenditure review, and I thank the honourable member for her question. At the outset, I place on record the incredible work of the member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin. She has been advocating to me and to the Treasurer about the very real challenges that are being faced by the Northern Rivers and the ongoing efforts that are being undertaken. Shortly after we were sworn in, the Treasurer travelled up to Lismore to visit the community, to speak directly with those affected by those truly tragic floods that occurred last year and to get a sense of the scale of the work that needs to continue.

Mr President, I acknowledge that you are also from that part of the world and have advocated on behalf of those communities. To be frank, the pace of the Government response was not quick enough and there is a lot of work for us to do. To answer that specific question, we are certainly aware of the challenges that are being faced by the people of the Northern Rivers. I know that the member for Lismore will continue to advocate for them. We will continue to speak to her as we conduct our line-by-line item review. We take that responsibility very seriously and we are doing it in a careful and methodical way, because we certainly do not want to be threatening any of those important supports that are in place for the people who have suffered too much tragedy already.

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (11:39:02):

I ask a supplementary question. Given the Insurance Council of Australia's strong views on the buyback of flood-impacted homes in the Northern Rivers, has the Minister, notwithstanding her husband's senior role with the ICA, participated in any discussions or decision‑making about the buybacks since becoming a Minister?

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey:

Point of order: That is a new question and should be asked as a substantive question, not as a supplementary question. The question does not arise from the Minister's substantive answer to the first question and is a legitimately new question.

The Hon. Damien Tudehope:

To the point of order: The President's previous position in relation to supplementary questions is that generally if they are in the context of the question, then they would be allowed. This question relates to the Minister's involvement in the consideration of the buyback scheme for the Northern Rivers area, and it arises right out of the answer she just gave in respect of the review of the buyback. There is no question that the supplementary question arises from the manner in which the Minister is participating in ensuring that the buyback scheme occurs.

The Hon. Penny Sharpe:

To the point of order: The Leader of the Opposition might be making a point around the importance of the question, but it is not a supplementary question. It should be classed as a separate question because it is a completely separate question to the original question asked.

The PRESIDENT:

The Leader of the Opposition is quite right in noting that I said there would be wide latitude given to supplementary questions; however, I also made it very clear that there would be a line and that when that line was crossed in terms of asking a new question, that supplementary question would not be allowed. This is indeed a fundamentally new question, which the Opposition is welcome to ask at its next round of questioning.

Ms Sue Higginson:

I ask a second supplementary question.

The PRESIDENT:

Because there was no valid supplementary question asked by the Opposition, there cannot be a second supplementary question.

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