Minister visits flood-impacted North West

Published Friday, 17 March, 2023 at 11:45 AM

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities
The Honourable Mark Furner

  • Minister visiting Burketown and Doomadgee today
  • Meeting with impacted locals and inspecting damage
  • The Palaszczuk and Albanese Governments have acted swiftly to provide assistance

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities has today visited flood-affected North West Queensland.

The Minister met with locals, community leaders and primary producers in Burketown and Doomadgee who have been impacted by severe flooding, and inspected damage to properties and businesses.

The Palaszczuk Government, in conjunction with the Albanese Government, has enacted Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) including Category B assistance for agribusinesses, Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme and Personal Hardship Assistance.

Further assessments are currently underway to determine if higher levels of funding activations are required.

The Queensland Government’s builder QBuild has sent teams to Burketown and Camooweal to complete repairs and building works to help communities get back on their feet.

Previously declared assistance includes the following for certain flood-affected areas:

  • DRFA Personal Hardship Assistance of $180 for individuals and $900 for families.
  • DRFA Category B assistance for primary producers and small businesses:
    • $250,000 concessional loans to repair or replace damaged buildings, plant, equipment or livestock.
    • $100,000 loans for working capital to keep businesses going during recovery.
  • DRFA Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme.
  • DAF freight subsidies of up to $5,000.

Further details on disaster assistance can be found via the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority website and the QRIDA website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:

“These floods have hit North West Queensland hard, and the Palaszczuk Government is making sure support is available.

“Queenslanders are no strangers to natural disasters, but it is always heartbreaking when homes and livelihoods are impacted.

“It’s important to be here in the North West to survey the damage, speak to locals and determine what assistance we can provide to help communities recover.

“I encourage everyone who has been impacted by flooding to get online and check out what assistance they are eligible for.”

ENDS

Media contact: Bryce Heaton 0427 781 920