Mrs Darling asked the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 3 March 1981:

(1) Has his attention been drawn to a State Emergency Service report on the damage resulting from a severe hailstorm which struck the North Brisbane bayside suburbs of Brighton and Sandgate on 16 December 1980.

(2) If so, did the report describe the storm as Queensland's worst natural disaster to that date since the formation of the State Emergency Service in 1975.

(3) Was any request received by him from the Queensland Premier for assistance from the Commonwealth Government for relief aid following that hailstorm.

(4) Was it necessary for the Queensland Premier to declare the area adversely affected by the storm a disaster area, before the Commonwealth Government would provide special assistance.

(5) With respect to the Commonwealth Government's undertaking to meet on a dollar for dollar basis State expenditures on standard measures for the immediate relief of personal hardship and distress, as referred to on page 79 of Budget Paper No. 7, 1980-81, (a) what are regarded as standard measures, (b) must the State Government request assistance before it is given, (c) has assistance been provided to the Queensland State Government for (i) the Brighton hailstorm relief, (ii) North Queensland flood relief and (iii) Dalby flood relief.

(6) How many declared natural disasters have occurred in each State and Territory in each year since 1940, and in each case what sum has the Commonwealth contributed by way of disaster relief assistance.

(7) Is it a fact that Queensland suffers more from natural disasters such as drought, cyclones and floods, than any other State in the Commonwealth.

(8) While campaigning in the Electoral Division of McPherson, or at any other time, has he been informed of the Queensland Premier's recently expressed intention to request amendments to the disaster relief arrangements between the Commonwealth and State Governments.

(9) Has his attention been drawn to the report in the Courier Mail, 16 February 1981, in which the Queensland Premier is quoted as saying that the present disaster relief arrangements with the Federal Government do not cover disasters like the Brighton storm; if so, is there any substance to this claim.

(10) Is it a fact that once a State Government passes its prescribed base expenditure for natural disasters before the end of a financial year, the Commonwealth Government is obliged to contribute toward the total cost of disaster relief.

(11) Is it also a fact that when a State Government expends in relief aid on any one disaster in excess of one tenth of its prescribed base expenditure for natural disasters, the Commonwealth is obliged to contribute towards relief measures on a $3 for $1 basis.

(12) How does the Government determine whether grants for relief of personal hardship and distress come within the conditions of the existing disaster arrangements and thereby qualify for Commonwealth reimbursement.

Mr Malcolm Fraser —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) and (2) In the days immediately following the storm, the Commonwealth received, through the Natural Disasters Organisation, regular situation reports from the Queensland State Emergency Service on the damage and the emergency relief operations, along with requests for Defence Force equipment and personnel to assist in the relief operations. Defence Force assistance was provided as requested. Other State Emergency Service reports are prepared for and used by the State and are not necessarily forwarded to the Commonwealth.

(3) Yes. Commonwealth assistance was, in any case, available to the State under existing natural disaster relief arrangements for a range of measures. Those applicable to the Brighton hailstorm and other similar occurrances were for relief of personal hardship and distress and for the restoration of public assets and emergency protection and repair work by State, local and semi-government authorities. The Queensland Premier advised the Commonwealth on 22 December 1980 of the implementation of these measures and sought agreement, for the purpose of determining Commonwealth assistance to the State under the arrangements, to variation of limits applicable in individual cases to certain of the measures for relief of personal hardship and distress. I replied in January 1981 indicating the Commonwealth's agreement to the new limits proposed.

(4) The declaration of an area as a disaster area is solely a matter for the State Government. Commonwealth assistance for natural disaster relief is not contingent on a State making such a declaration.

(5) (a) Standard measures for the relief of personal hardship and distress under the natural disaster relief arrangements comprise:

(i) provision of emergency food

(ii) provision of emergency clothing

(iii) provision of emergency accommodation

(iv) essential repairs to houses to make them habitable and secure

(v) repair and replacement of essential items of furniture and personal effects

These measures are restricted to people in needy circumstances as a result of a disaster.

(5) (b) Not in respect of the standard measures.

(5) (c) (i), (ii) and (iii) Assistance has been provided in respect of claims made by the State Government in relation to these and other disasters.

(6) The natural disaster relief arrangements are not designed to provide assistance to a State on a disaster-by-disaster basis, but rather to assist a State in meeting the cost of natural disaster relief assistance provided during a year when it goes beyond the amount originally set to reflect the State's financial capacity. Accordingly, information in the form sought is not readily available. Details of Commonwealth assistance to individual States under the natural disaster relief arrangements are available in 1980-81 Budget Paper No. 7 (pp 79-80, 139-141) and in earlier issues of this Budget Paper.

(7) It is not possible to assess from the information available to the Commonwealth whether Queensland suffers more from natural disasters than any other State. Such an assessment would depend not only on the frequency of disasters but also on the extent of damage, both to property and individuals, caused by disasters, not all of which would attract Commonwealth assistance.

(8) When the present arrangements were established in 1978, provision was made for regular reviews. On 4 March 1981 I announced that I had written to all State Premiers and the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory proposing that officials consult on a review of the current arrangements to enable consideration at the June 1981 Premiers' Conference. Prior to the announcement of the review, several Premiers, including Mr Bjelke-Petersen, had written to me indicating dissatisfaction with aspects of the arrangements as they affected their States.

(9) As indicated in (5) above, the Brighton hailstorm has already attracted Commonwealth assistance in respect of the immediate relief of personal hardship and distress. Expenditure by Queensland on longer-term relief and restoration measures that is in accord with the terms and conditions of the natural disaster relief arrangements would be eligible to attract Commonwealth assistance. Additionally, as was indicated in (1) and (2) above, Defence Force assistance was provided immediately following the storm to meet urgent State requests for manpower and equipment for the emergency relief and restoration operations.

(10) and (11) The Commonwealth contributes, on a $3 for $1 basis, to the cost of State expenditures on approved relief and restoration measures (including measures for the relief of personal hardship and distress) in excess of the State's base amount where such expenditures are in respect of a 'major' disaster, A 'major' disaster is, for this purpose, defined as a disaster in respect of which State expenditure on approved measures exceeds one-tenth of the State's base amount. Where a disaster is not a 'major' disaster and/or the State has not exceeded its base amount, State expenditures on approved measures for the relief of personal hardship and distress attract Commonwealth assistance on a $ for $ basis. Further information can be found in 1980-81 Budget Paper No. 7 (pages 79-80).

(12) The conditions under which Commonwealth assistance in respect of a State's expenditure on the relief of personal hardship and distress is provided, are described in (5) and (11) above. The States are required to submit audited statements to certify expenditure in accordance with agreed measures of assistance for natural disaster relief and restoration.