Markwood families still waiting for fair go after bushfire loss

The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, is again calling on the Victorian Government to ensure Markwood families who lost their homes in the December 2025 bushfires are not left behind.

Mr McCurdy raised the issue in Parliament last week for the second time in as many months, asking the Minister for Emergency Services whether Markwood will be prioritised under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements schedule.

Mr McCurdy said it was unacceptable that two Markwood families who lost everything in the December 4 bushfire remain ineligible for disaster recovery assistance.

“Communities like Longwood and Ruffy have rightly been recognised under Category D support, and Goomalibee has been added to Category B for emergency relief and council assistance,” Mr McCurdy said.

“But the families in Markwood who lost their homes have been left out simply because their fire occurred earlier.”

Mr McCurdy said the situation was deeply unfair for residents, who watched their homes and a lifetime of belongings burn to the ground.

“These people suffered the same trauma and devastation as others across the region, yet because of a date on a calendar they are not eligible for support,” he said.

Mr McCurdy has written to the relevant ministers seeking urgent intervention.

“No family should fall through the cracks after losing their home in a bushfire,” he said. “The government must act to ensure Markwood receives the support it deserves.”