ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES IMPACTED

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, and Queensland Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Jack Dempsey, today announced that further assistance is being provided to communities hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone Ita.

Additional assistance is being provided for the local government areas of Cook Shire, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire, under the jointly funded Commonwealth and State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

“Emergency assistance has been extended to the areas of Ayton, Bloomfield, Helensvale, Rossville and Lizard Island within the Cook Shire to assist individuals and families with immediate needs such as food, clothing and accommodation, and costs associated with the removal of debris around homes, household repairs and rebuilding, and the replacement of essential household items,” Mr Keenan said.

“The Essential Services Safety Reconnection Scheme has also been made available to residents in the areas of Ayton, Bloomfield, Cooktown, Helenvale, Laura and Rossville in the Cook Shire, the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire and the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire,” Mr Dempsey said.

“As communities start to clean up and recover from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Ita, we will continue to work proactively to ensure assistance is targeted to those in most need.”

Local Federal Member Warren Entsch has welcomed the additional support for his community.

“This assistance will help support individuals and families within our local community as they start the recovery process in the wake of Cyclone Ita,” Mr Entsch said.  

“This additional assistance is over and above the support already being provided to the 16 local government areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Ita under the joint Commonwealth and State Arrangements,” Mr Keenan said.

For information on concessional interest rate loans for primary producers, visit the Queensland Government’s QRAA website at www.qraa.qld.gov.au.

For information on freight subsidies for primary producers, visit the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website at: www.daff.qld.gov.au/environment/disaster-and-emergency-assistance/agency-disaster-support/relief-assistance-freight-subsidies.

For information on all other assistance measures, contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/community.

Additional information can be found on the Queensland Government’s Disaster Management website at www.disaster.qld.gov.au or the Australian Government Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au.

Media contact: Minister Keenan - Hannah Weir 0458 167 600

                        Minister Dempsey – Callum Stewart 0403 925 703