Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, has welcomed an additional $416,667 in Federal Government funds to be provided to local councils impacted by bushfire.

This is in addition to the $1 million previously provided by the Federal Government directly to the local councils.

The Gilmore MP has been calling on the Federal Government to make more support available to fire impacted communities for weeks and has said this funding will help Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla councils in their recovery.

“For weeks now I have been asking the government to provide further assistance to our communities struggling to recover from the recent bushfires,” Fiona Phillips MP said.

“I am pleased to see almost $1.5 million in Federal funding flowing directly through to the Shoalhaven and the Eurobodalla to help rebuild our community after this dreadful summer period,”

However, Fiona Phillips again expressed concern about direct assistance to help individuals and small businesses who continue to struggle with the loss of the busy summer period.

“We have businesses closing their doors, individuals impacted by fire or who have lost significant income who can’t get help. More needs to be done to make sure local people don’t fall through the cracks,” she said.

During Question Time this week, Mrs Phillips asked the Prime Minister if he would make grants available to local small businesses hesitant to enter into further debt.

“In Parliament this week, my focus has been on raising these issues with the government and telling the stories of local people, and I will continue to do this over the weeks and months to come,” Fiona Phillips said.