Hardship assistance available to flooded Winton residents, small business disaster loans activated

• Flood affected Queenslanders in Winton can now access Personal Hardship Assistance for their disaster recovery.
• Support available includes emergency payments to purchase food, clothing and medicine, and targeted grants for vulnerable residents.
• Disaster loans have also been activated for eligible flood impacted small businesses in 13 north and north-west local government areas.

The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments have made Personal Hardship Assistance payments available to flood-hit Winton residents battling the prolonged monsoon trough over north-west Queensland.

This includes payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more for emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine, and other assistance targeting low income, uninsured residents.

Disaster assistance loans have also been activated for impacted small businesses in 13 north and north-west local government areas, including low interest loans up to $250,000 to support recovery efforts and up to $100,000 to help sustain operations.

LGAs include Burke, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Mount Isa, Palm Island, Richmond, Townsville, Winton, and Yarrabah.

Additionally, eligible primary producers in Winton Shire can now access disaster loans up to $250,000 and freight subsidies up to $5,000, while Doomadgee and Etheridge Councils will be supported with their counter disaster operations and essential asset repairs.

All financial support is being funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Information on Personal Hardship Assistance, eligibility, and how to apply, can be found at www.disaster.qld.gov.au or by calling the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

For disaster loan info and applications, small businesses and primary producers can visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or phone 1800 623 946. 

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the support comes at a critical time for Queenslanders in need.

“These assistance measures have been activated to make sure flood affected families and businesses can get back on their feet,” Minister McBain said.

“For Winton residents whose properties have been inundated with floodwater, the grants will allow them to cover emergency costs such as food and clothing, and offer financial safety nets for the vulnerable.

“Disaster loans will make sure impacted small businesses and primary producers have the funds required for all necessary recovery activities and to maintain operations during this tough period.

“We’re also providing councils with confidence to continue their great work with response, clean-up and emergency repairs.” 

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said helping businesses will retain jobs and help families.

“Queenslanders hit hard by this disaster need a suite of assistance measures, and this support is part of that suite,” Minister Leahy said.

“These loans are assistance measures that give businesses more financial options and we are determined help them keep the doors open and people employed.

“We’ll continue working with the Commonwealth Government to provide Queenslanders with all the assistance measures they need to get back on their feet following this disaster.”

Personal Hardship Assistance available to eligible Winton residents:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.
• Essential Household Contents Grants – income-tested assistance for uninsured residents, up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and whitegoods.
• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.

• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme – income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.

Disaster loans for eligible small businesses and primary producers:

• Disaster Assistance Loans – up to $250,000 to repair or replace damaged assets like plant and equipment, to repair premises, or to replace stock and maintain liquidity.
• Essential Working Capital Loans – up to $100,000 to allow for the continuation of operations, including paying wages, rents or rates, purchasing fuel, fodder and water, and transporting livestock and produce.

Fifteen local government areas across north and north-west Queensland are now receiving DRFA assistance in response to the North Queensland Monsoon Trough.

For the full list of activated LGAs and support available please visit the Activations page on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority website.

ENDS

Media contacts:
Minister McBain: Claire Johnston 0473 406 905
Minister Leahy: Kyah Devine 0424 670 963