Yesterday Federal Parliamentarians honoured and thanked all Australians who bravely served our nation through the Spring and Summer bushfires.

Sadly some 33 people have lost their lives in this disaster nationally including six brave firefighters and Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan acknowledged the loss and suffering his community felt.

“We had our bushfires in late October, November and December and the pain for our community remains very raw and palpable,” Mr Conaghan said in his statement to Parliament.

“I offer my condolences and sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Barry Parsons…and to the men, women and children who lost their homes in these devastating fires. A total of 156 homes were destroyed in my electorate of Cowper: 26 homes near Port Macquarie, 66 homes west of Kempsey and a further 64 homes near Macksville and Nambucca.

“But Deputy Speaker many hundreds if not thousands were saved…by the brave men and women of the RFS. It must have been terrifying and yet they stayed there and saved all of those homes.”

Mr Conaghan also wanted to thank the Australian Red Cross for this week announcing it would provide a further $61.5 million of the donated funds to people worst-hit by bushfires.

“I received an update this week from Australian Red Cross that its Bushfire Advisory Panel reviewed further its distribution of the $127 million donated and it decided to provide more assistance to impacted people,” he said.

“Australian Red Cross has decided to double its payment to people whose homes were destroyed and they are now going to provide money to help with structural building repairs and I welcome this.”

Australian Red Cross has said it will now provide:

• An additional $10,000 payment to support people whose homes were destroyed extending the total amount available to $20,000 per household
• A total of $7,500 for people who were hospitalised for more than two days as a result of the fires, with grants helping to cover out of pocket medical and other related expenses
• A total of $5000 for home owners whose homes have been structurally damaged and require repairs to make them safe for people to live in
• And a bereavement payment of $20,000 for the senior next of kin of people who have tragically died due to the bushfires.

For more information on the Australian Red Cross bushfire assistance visit https://www.redcross.org.au/grants or call 1800 733 276. People who have already received $10,000 assistance from the Red Cross will be contacted about how they can receive the further $10,000 announced this week.

To watch or read Mr Conaghan’s full statement to the House of Representatives yesterday visit https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen