More help for North Queensland communities hit by Ita

Communities in North Queensland impacted by Cyclone Ita will receive emergency assistance to restore essential public assets, help farmers to recover and support some of the worst affected workers.

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, and Queensland Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Jack Dempsey, announced the extra assistance today.

Concessional loans and freight subsidies are now available for primary producers in Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Lockhart River, Mackay, Mareeba, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.

Assistance will also be made available to help the local councils of Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Lockhart River, Mackay, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday and Yarrabah recover.

“Local councils have done a great job preparing for Tropical Cyclone Ita but they still have a large task ahead of them cleaning up and restoring essential public assets and we want to help them with that,” Mr Keenan said.

“This assistance will directly help the residents and communities of Far North Queensland as they respond following Tropical Cyclone Ita,” Mr Dempsey said.

“I am joining the Premier on the ground in these communities as they get to work cleaning up and restoring community services."

“The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will continue to work together to ensure disaster affected communities receive the support and assistance they need to recover quickly from this disaster event.” Mr Keenan said.

The assistance announced today in addition to assistance announced on 11 April 2014.

For more information visit www.disasterassist.gov.au or www.disaster.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Minister Keenan - Hannah Weir 0458 167 600

                           Minister Dempsey – Andrew Blow 0408 912 821