BUXTON - The Victorian Government is banking on a massive tourism campaign to rebuild shattered towns and communities following the devastating bushfires on February 7.
Announcing a A$51 million ($64 million) joint federal-state government package of loans and grants for small businesses directly affected by the blazes, PremierJohn Brumby said tourism was a significant industry in most of the bushfire-ravaged areas.
Under the package, businesses and farmers can apply for grants and loans up to A$25,000, with an immediate A$5000 cash grant available to kickstart the rebuilding process.
Speaking at the Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm, Brumby said it was one of many hundreds of tourist-based businesses affected by the fires that would benefit from the package.
"Tourism is a big issue throughout these areas," Brumby said yesterday. "There are other areas as well - the Yarra Valley vineyards, a lot of their business has been cancelled as people are concerned about the fires."
Meanwhile, graziers in Queensland expect to lose more than 100,000 head of cattle in flooding, as debate rages about the Government's response to the disaster.
Residents of the Gulf of Carpentaria towns of Karumba and Normanton, who face a further five weeks of isolation after more than a month of flooding, have expressed their anger over business and farm losses.
Opposition frontbencher Ray Hopper compared the government's response to the George W. Bush Administration's much-criticised handling of Hurricane Katrina.
