Etheridge Shire residents can access flood hardship payments

• Personal Hardship Assistance is now available to flooded residents in Etheridge Shire.
• Support includes emergency payments to purchase food, clothing and medicine, and targeted grants for vulnerable residents.
• Assistance is being provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Financial assistance is now available to flood affected residents in the Etheridge Shire Council area, funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments.

This includes emergency payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover immediate costs for food, clothing and medicine.

Support targeting low income, uninsured residents is being offered, including Structural Assistance Grants up to $80,000 to repair a damaged home to a safe and habitable condition.

Assistance for temporary emergency accommodation is also available to impacted residents in Etheridge Shire.

These measures come in the wake of heavy monsoonal rains that have caused the Copperfield and Gilbert Rivers to reach levels not seen for over half a century.

Support is being delivered by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

For information on grants, eligibility and how to apply visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au.

Impacted residents can also phone the 24/7 Queensland Community Recovery Hotline, 1800 173 349.

In addition, DRFA disaster loans up to $250,000 and freight subsidies up to $5,000 have been extended to primary producers in Etheridge Shire and the Central Highlands to help their flood recovery and sustain operations.

Applications for disaster loans can be made via www.qrida.qld.gov.au, while farmers needing freight subsidies can call Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries on 13 25 23.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said supporting those in need was part of Australia’s social fabric.

“This hardship assistance will help affected Etheridge Shire residents deal with their immediate requirements and position them for the road to recovery when floodwaters go down,” Minister McBain said.

“It will keep food on the table, clothes on peoples’ backs, and get the power reconnected.

“We stand with every Queenslander battling this disaster and will make sure support is distributed quickly.”

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the Crisafulli Government was working hard for rural and remote Queenslanders in response to this extensive flood emergency.

“The funding available will help our North Queensland communities push through the challenging weeks and months ahead.

“We are in constant contact with all impacted councils and will keep activating the necessary financial aid to support recovery.”

Personal Hardship Assistance available to eligible Etheridge Shire 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.

ENDS

Media contacts:
Minister McBain: David Jean 0467 559 492
Minister Leahy: Kyah Devine 0424 670 963