Additional disaster assitance for Northern Queensland communities

Disaster assistance has been now extended to the community of Cloncurry and small business assistance is available in Townsville as the record-breaking monsoonal floods continue to impact northern Queensland.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is in addition to the assistance already activated for the region.

Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said the Commonwealth and Queensland governments were committed to providing on-going support to impacted communities.

“The monsoon trough in North Queensland continues to produce record rainfall and subsequent flooding impacting more and more communities,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.

“Through the DRFA, we are now providing assistance to Cloncurry Shire Council to help cover the cost of clean-up and repairs associated with the floods and to help residents recover.

“Townsville is at the centre of this disaster event so we are pleased to be able to provide assistance to small businesses who have suffered losses because of this event.

“In addition, personal hardship assistance payments and essential services reconnection grants are now available across the entire Townsville Local Government Area.”

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.

“Small businesses are absolutely vital to Queensland’s economy and it’s important we provide support and relief as some already start to count the costs of the flooding in Townsville,” Minister Crawford said.

“Impacted small businesses in Townsville can now access concessional loans of up to $250,000, and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000.

“As this flooding situation continues to develop, the Commonwealth and Queensland governments are expecting to provide relief and recovery assistance to more northern Queensland communities as impacts are realised.

“Most importantly for now, we ask people that could be impacted by the rainfall and flooding to listen to authorities, listen to the warnings, plan ahead and take the appropriate action to ensure the safety of your family.”

A range of DRFA assistance is now available in 12 local council areas in northern Queensland, the councils are: Burdekin, Cairns, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Palm Island, Richmond, Townsville, Whitsunday and Wujal Wujal.

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)
Kerryn Manifold 0428 510 973 (Minister Crawford)