Joint media release: Prolonged flooding triggers disaster assistance for more impacted Queensland communities

• Personal Hardship Assistance is now available to flood impacted residents in North Burnett, and more parts of Bundaberg and Western Downs.
• Support includes payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more for emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
• Disaster loan eligibility for primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits has also been expanded to a range of new local government areas.

The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments have activated new flood assistance measures for residents, businesses, community organisations and councils in local government areas scattered from Western Downs to Douglas Shire.

Impacted residents in North Burnett, as well as more areas of Bundaberg and Western Downs, can access Personal Hardship Assistance payments of $180 for individuals, up to $900 for a family of five or more, for emergency essentials.

An extension of time for Emergency and Essential Services Hardship Assistance has also been given to eligible residents in Banana, Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Carpentaria, Doomadgee, Douglas, Flinders, Gladstone, North Burnett and Western Downs affected by repeat flood events over the past months. Applications are now open till 27 April.

Queenslanders can check the activated areas for Personal Hardship Assistance and apply via www.disaster.qld.gov.au or by calling the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

For primary producers in Charters Towers, Douglas, Longreach and Western Downs, disaster loans up to $2 million and freight subsidies up to $5,000 are available, while North Burnett not-for-profits can now access loans up to $100,000.

Additionally, the council of Maranoa can now recoup the costs of their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets like roads and bridges.

All assistance measures are funded through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in response to ongoing severe weather this year.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said disaster recovery requires a strong combined effort from all levels of government.

“Our government stands shoulder to shoulder with all Queenslanders battling through this disaster season, and we’re making sure the necessary assistance is available,” Minister McBain said.

“This funding will give confidence to communities and will make sure local recovery can progress without delay.”

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said this assistance would support flood-affected farmers and producers in Queensland. 

“The flooding in Queensland has had a terrible impact on our farmers and primary producers, who are not only critical to regional economies, but to our food security.

“That’s why making this support available is so important – helping our farmers and primary producers to clean up, sustain livestock, and mitigate the impacts of flooding and loss of pasture.”

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said that swiftly activating support for areas impacted by disaster remained a continued priority for the Crisafulli Government. 

“As Queenslanders we know the effect disasters have on our communities. We’ll continue to support every corner of our state affected by severe weather,” Minister Leahy said.

“As we gain access to more affected areas and the full impact of recent weather events are revealed, we will continue to activate the support these communities need recover.”

Queensland Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett said the expansion of local government areas that are now eligible for primary producer disaster loans will provide relief for those farmers who have been impacted by the latest flooding.

“Farmers in the Charters Towers, Douglas, Longreach and Western Downs council areas now have access to disaster loans and freight subsidies to assist as they turn their focus to getting back on their feet and recovering,” Minister Perrett said.

“The impact to primary producers this season has been significant, the challenges they are facing great but they can have confidence the government is backing them to get back to the vital work of producing world class food, fibre and foliage.”