NZ flood victims may be denied emergency funding

New Zealanders forced from their homes in the Queensland floods have been told they are not eligible for disaster recovery subsidies.

In an email sent to the Labour Party, one New Zealander said she had spoken to officials from Centrelink, an Australian support agency, at an evacuation centre and was told that many New Zealanders were not eligible for emergency funding.

"We were advised that hundreds of New Zealand citizens had been applying for the emergency funding ... and did not fit the criteria, generally because they arrived after the 26 February, 2001," the woman wrote.

"All they could say to these people, were to `apply anyway', yet in the same breath the Centrelink staff were finding it very distressing as they knew fair well the applicants likely would not meet the criteria, the staff felt helpless."

The woman said she was "stunned" by the news.

"How unfair and unjust is this ridiculous reciprocal agreement between New Zealand and Australian governments?"

Labour leader Phil Goff said the confusion regarding what New Zealanders were entitled to had to be resolved quickly.

"Kiwis working in Australia who have lost their homes and their jobs because of this natural disaster and through no fault of their own need help now," Mr Goff said.

"John Key must urgently take this issue up with the Australian Government."

- NZPA