Joint media release: Recovery grants for disaster-impacted WA farmers and small businesses

Acting Minister for Emergency Management, the Hon Tony Burke MP
Minister for Northern Australia, the Hon Madeleine King MP
Western Australia Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC

The two new grant programs have been made available to cover the costs of eligible clean-up and recovery efforts, for those impacted by Tropical Cyclone Ilsa or ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie this year.

Both are jointly funded by the Albanese and Cook Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DFRA).

The Small and Medium Business Recovery Grants Programs provide support of up to $50,000 for small businesses and up to $75,000 for medium-sized businesses. Eligible costs include the purchasing of equipment and materials to undertake clean-up, essential repairs to premises, disposal of damaged goods and materials, payment for trades to conduct safety inspections and leasing of temporary premises.

Under the Primary Producers Recovery Grant Program, support of up to $75,000 is available to assist primary production enterprises that suffered direct damage from either disaster. Eligible costs include those incurred cleaning up flood-related debris, removal and disposal of damaged infrastructure and equipment, stock recovery and replacement, restoration of fencing, and repairs to damaged infrastructure and equipment.

Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King said the recovery grants would help continue economic recovery for communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara.

“These grants are intended to assist with costs that businesses and primary producers incur in cleaning up and getting back to work, including work completed since the disasters and work still to be done,” Minister King said.

“Communities in regional areas rely on a strong economy, so these grants will be an important tool in supporting businesses to bounce back from the cyclones.

“For those hit hard by these events, the grants will provide much-needed relief for the region’s farmers and business operators, and a boost to the region’s economic recovery.”

Western Australian Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Stephen Dawson said the government recognised the challenges to operating a primary production enterprise or business in a remote location, so it was a priority to help maintain impacted businesses and support them through the recovery.

“In small regional and remote communities, primary producers and local businesses are at the heart of their communities and play a critical role in providing local employment and goods and services to the local economy,” Minister Dawson said.

“The costs to carry out clean-up and repairs may be prohibitive and cause a delay in recommencing operations, which could have a flow-on negative impact on local employment opportunities and the local economy.

“That’s why we’ve been working closely with the Australian Government to develop a support program that helps local primary producers and businesses get back on their feet as soon as possible.”

More information about the grants programs is available at the Department for Fire and Emergency Services’ Emergency WA website.

The support is in addition to more housing assistance for public housing and private homeowner grants, and temporary housing for displaced residents and workers, also announced today. For more information, visit: www.dfes.wa.gov.au/kimberleyfloods