Labor has again called for the HomeBuilder scheme to be extended to Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains families affected by bushfires ahead of the Federal Budget.

Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Jason Clare, and Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, visited residents of Skyline Road, Mt Tomah, on 2 October, to discuss the issue.

“There were so many lives affected when bushfire tore through this area late last year,” Ms Templeman said.

“Out of the five houses that have been burned down on this street, only one family will be able to apply by the 31 December cut off for the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.

“Even then, it’s going to be a tight deadline for the residents to meet.

“I call on the Government to extend this deadline to really help these families rebuild.

“I’ve personally met with residents who just have no hope that they will be able to meet the deadline, and I want to repeat Labor’s call for the Prime Minister to step in and give bushfire-affected families a break.”

Mr Clare said “if anyone deserves help to rebuild, it’s people who had their homes burn down like those in Mt Tomah.”

“We’re just asking the Prime Minister to have a heart and extend the 31 December deadline.” Mr Clare said.

“Labor wrote to the Prime Minister in June asking for special consideration to be made so that bushfire victims nationwide are not unfairly excluded. The Prime Minister wrote back and refused any special consideration for bushfire victims.

“The Government should swallow its pride and try to fix its bungled HomeBuilder Scheme in the Budget.

“We’ve called for this in Parliament. We’ve called for this in the media. People who were affected by the Black Summer bushfires felt abandoned by the Morri