A war of polite words has broken out between the Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke over the $50 million Anchor Business Support Package.

Yesterday Mr Hogan and Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg called out the State Government for not matching the Federal Government's $50 million in a co-contribution arrangement for the package trying to encourage them to come to the party now.

A phone call to Ms Cooke's office received this reply:

"More than $3 billion in support, the majority of which is co-funded 50:50 between the Commonwealth and NSW governments, has been announced since the first disaster declarations were made to support flood-impacted communities across NSW throughout the recovery process.

"The Northern Rivers Business Support Package for Large Business is solely funded by the Commonwealth at their insistence.

"The NSW Government is open to considering more flood recovery support measures in coordination with the new Federal Government."

According to the NSW Government, it made a formal offer to the former Commonwealth Government in March to cost-share a large business support package. This was declined.

Announced by Minister McKenzie on 18 March, the Commonwealth and NSW Government agreed to a $742 million dollar business package to support Northern Rivers business. The Commonwealth Government insisted on solely funding the large business package.

From their 18 March release: https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/mckenzie/2022/new-support-package-northern-nsw

“The Commonwealth Government will also solely provide the following assistance in the Northern Rivers as part of the fourth phase package:

• Up to $50 million for large businesses and major employers in key industries to provide immediate financial assistance in the Northern Rivers.
• This package will provide funding to help the recovery of big businesses that are major employers in the region.”

Both small business grants and the medium-sized business grant supported by NSW are open and being delivered by Service NSW, more information available here: Grants, loans and financial assistance | Service NSW

The response to those comments from Mr Hogan is:

“Former Emergency Management Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie is not aware of any offer made by the State Government for this program.

The Federal Government has been asking for weeks for the State to support this program. If they are happy to contribute it would be readily accepted.”

So, the State Government is open to considering more flood recovery support options with the new Federal Government and our local Member is asking them for $50 million to save our city.

Can the people involved get together to approve the $50 million so Lismore doesn't lose an estimated thousand jobs that would set us back another 12 months in the recovery process or worse?