Having just suffered the ghastliest of all days, next day Black Saturday victims had to front a centre staffed by Centrelink, where they had to prove their identity and address, and register their details as to how they and/or their families had been impacted. They were then allotted file numbers, and subsequently received the relevant cash payments either that day, or soon after. This was strictly adhered to, as to claimants having to back up this verbal evidence if required, as to how they'd been affected and who had been affected within their family. As these poor people were all in a stage of severe shock and grief at the time, this seemed strict, even harsh; yet certainly weeded out the possibility that monies were given out to people who should not have received anything. And this was a State Labor Government in charge at the time. At least they got that right - and any crooks were soon prosecuted.
Yet it seems Qld flood victim applicants were paid out entirely on the basis of their postcodes - whether or not they'd been flooded out, or had lost any homes or property.
Minister Tanya Plebisick was unable to explain this method satisfactorily. And then Swan calls people lowlifes? It was up to officials to ensure the bona fides of those who were asking for money relief. And register their details accordingly, for later follow-up if needed.
