Local tradies from bushfire communities to lead rebuild project
Local tradespeople from communities devastated by bushfires have been reassured that they will be prioritised when it comes to rebuilding their towns.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told insurance bosses on Tuesday to give the work to local tradespeople when the providers begin to pay out for rebuilds. "These communities need to rebuild and the more jobs that can be provided locally the better. And the companies gave their guarantee that they will do that."
As it stands, there have been almost 9000 insurance claims related to the bushfires, totalling around $700 million. The average contents claim is around $50,000, while house claims are about $300,000, according to the Insurance Council of Australia executive director Rob Whelan.
The government's $2 billion recovery fund, which will go towards rebuilding local communities more generally, will also go to local tradies when the work begins. It's hoped that providing local tradespeople with rebuilding work will help stimulate the local economy.
National Bushfire Recovery Agency boss Andrew Colvin also vowed to do as much as possible and to listen and travel to the communities affected.
"There are people who may not have lost their home but they don't have a workplace to go to. There are businesses that may still stand but there's no customers because the road is blocked and it could be some time before it's re-established," he told reporters.
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