Aussie Residents Face Hardship Payments Chaos

0:00I'm Cory with the story, bringing you the latest from Sydney News today. Residents in Australia's Northern Territory are dealing with major frustration over hardship payments after severe flooding hit the Catherine region. The worst in decades, hundreds have been lining up at the Gaudenay Man, Ejard River's Arts and Culture Center for Disaster Relief Cash, available to folks in the Catherine. Local government area, plus nearby bestwick and jilt ming in communities, the distribution started at Catherine High School, but switched to the Arts Center because so many people showed up. On Thursday morning, though, the center was shut down and taped off after a sewer main burst, leaving early arrivals waiting even longer or sent away. Local shared stories of showing up hours early, only to walk home empty-handed for days in a row. Many need the money right now for basics, like food, blankets, and clothes, especially with ATMs dry and stores just reopening. Evacuation shelters are packed, sometimes running low on water, but people are making do.

1:00Hundreds remain in those centers, or cut off by floodwaters for safety. The local member for Catherine says the payments will run for a couple of weeks, so those not in desperate need should hold off to ease the lines. Meanwhile, a boilwater alert is still on for Catherine and jilt ming in, due to serious sewer damage from the floods. Officials say leaks aren't fully fixed yet, and infrastructure in jilt ming in needs testing before residents can return safely. A quick thank you to our sponsor of today's episode. Sali Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones. Layback, press play, and disappear into what you are listening to. S-O-L-I, SaliPillow.com