Additional disaster assistance for more Queensland communities

As the ongoing Queensland flood emergency continues, disaster assistance has been extended to the local government areas of Barcoo, Boulia, Lockhart River, Longreach, Mackay, Mareeba and Mount Isa, as well as primary producers in Winton.

In addition, impacted individuals and families in Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond can now access personal hardship assistance.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said that all levels of government were working together to support Queenslanders.

 “The severity and extent of flooding and damage will take weeks, if not months to be fully realised,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.

“Through the DRFA, assistance is now available to more communities to help alleviate operational costs and assist with the cost of clean-up and repairs.

“The relief measures now available in Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond will alleviate personal hardship and assist the safe reconnection of essential services.”

Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford said assistance would continue to be made available to the communities and sectors that need it the most.

“Primary producers that have been battling through years of drought are now struggling with record floods,” Minister Crawford said.

“In addition to assistance for local governments, primary producers in Winton can now access low interest disaster assistance loans and freight subsidies.

“We are working closely with the Commonwealth to ensure impacted communities in Queensland receive all the assistance available to help them on their long road to recovery.”

A range of DRFA assistance is now available in 28 local government areas in northern and western Queensland: Barcoo, Boulia, Burdekin, Cairns, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Lockhart River, Longreach, Mackay, Mareeba, McKinlay, Mornington, Mount Isa, Palm Island, Richmond, Townsville, Whitsunday, Winton, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the Queensland Government’s Disaster Management website at www.disaster.qld.gov.au.  

Media contacts:

Nicky Hamer 0437 989 927 (Assistant Minister Reynolds)

Bernadette Condren 0417 296 116 (Minister Crawford)