Peter Gutwein,Premier
As of yesterday, the Government has convened the Regional Social Recovery Committee, consistent with the Tasmanian Emergency Management Arrangements under the State's Emergency Management Act, to help those affected by the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport.
The Committee has representatives from Government agencies, as well as the Devonport City Council.
Its members have been conducting a needs assessment and that advice is being provided to the Government, to make sure we know what the community and the families need, and what more can be done at a Government level to assist. Support is already being provided to the families directly affected.
We will do whatever we can for the families along with the students, staff, the broader community, and emergency services as well as our first responders who I know have also been deeply impacted.
We will provide first-stage funding of up to $500,000 to support the community and the immediate needs already identified by the committee, and further needs identified by the committee, which will include help for both short and long term recovery.
This will include items such as counselling and social worker support, assistance to first responders and immediate support to families who have been impacted.
The Government stands ready to make more funding available should it be needed.
