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Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says consideration is being given by government to spend more proceeds from the $4 billion Emergency Response Fund to assist with flood mitigation. “As one senior government source said to me this morning the fund is not going to be put on ice and Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie, having visited the flood zones on the weekend, is determined to spend more than the government has been on flood mitigation,” Mr Clennell said. “At present, there is a legislated cap on how much money can come out of that future-style fund from interest of $200 million a year. “In order to use some of the $4 billion of the future-type fund it would require legislation to enable this to happen, and we only have three days of parliament left. “Also expect more category D funding announcements for individuals and businesses in the flood-affected zones in coming weeks. “Much controversy over this $4 billion stuck in the fund with Labor, which approved of the legislation when it passed in 2019, demanding several times over the week that more should be spent.”
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