FEDERAL LABOR CAUGHT ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AS FINISH LINE APPROACHES FOR BUSHFIRE CLEAN-UP

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro has called out Federal Labor's lies about the bushfire clean-up and slammed their attempt to derail the recovery of our resilient regional communities following the horrific bushfires.

"When recent bushfires devastated the length of the state, the NSW Government made it an absolute priority to begin the clean-up and have the majority completed by 30 June," Mr Barilaro said.

"Our communities have been to hell and back and it is our top priority to make sure the clean up of properties is done quickly and efficiently to ensure these communities get back on their feet as soon as possible.

"The clean up program in Victoria is one fifth the size of the clean-up in NSW and the NSW Government's program is due for completion far sooner.

"While Federal Labor enjoys using regional communities as a political football, I prefer to deal in facts and the facts speak for themselves."

More than $2.3 billion has been committed to the bushfire recovery by the NSW Government, which includes;

·         More than $185 million paid out in in $10,000 small business grants

·         More than $41 million paid out in up to $50,000 small business grants

·         More than $33 million in disaster loans for primary producers and businesses

·         More than $86 million has been paid out in $75,000 primary industry grants –

·         More than $15 million has been spent on providing health and wellbeing support

·         Almost $4 million in disaster welfare grants have been paid out

·         $140 million for the Bushfire Industry Recovery Package

·         More than 8,000 people have been placed in emergency accommodation since November

·         More than 100 pods through a partnership with Minderoo Foundation and NSW Government are being rolled out to communities who need to stay on their land

·         $1 billion commitment to rebuild public infrastructure

·         $10 million marketing campaign from Destination NSW

·         More than 2500 properties cleared so far

·         99% of the clean-up contracts have gone to local and regional contractors

"Labor has never put our regional communities first, and they never will."