Disaster assistance available for small businesses impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper

• Extraordinary disaster assistance grants of up to $50,000 are available to small businesses impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper
• Grants are available in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook Shire, Douglas Shire, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah Council areas.
• The small business grants will provide targeted assistance for clean-up, restoration and recovery activities to help small businesses return to operations.
• The Queensland Small Business Commissioner will waive the mediation fees for eligible parties from 13 December 2023 until 13 June 2024 to help resolve leasing disputes quickly and affordably.

Small businesses impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the related flooding in Far North Queensland are being urged to apply for disaster assistance grants of up to $50,000 from the Albanese and Miles Governments.

The recovery grants may be used to help impacted small businesses cover costs associated with the clean-up, disposal of damaged goods and material essential repairs to premises and replacement of stock.

The grants program is part of the $64 million package announced by the Prime Minister and Premier in Cairns, jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

For more information, or to apply for a grant, please call the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) on 1800 623 946 or visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

The Small Business Commissioner has also exercised a statutory power to waive all the fees payable for mediation through the Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) for small business tenants and their landlords impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, commencing 13 December 2023.

The waiver is available for parties to a retail shop lease or small business lease located in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal, and Yarrabah Council areas, at the time of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Loans of up to $250,000 have also been activated this week for small business owners to repair or replace damaged assets like plant and equipment, to repair premises, or to replace stock and maintain liquidity. For more information, visit the Queensland R​ural Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) website.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt:

“I’m hopeful this funding to small businesses demonstrates that we’re committed to helping FNQ businesses get back on their feet after this disaster.

“These $50,000 grants can help businesses clean up after floods and replace damaged stock. Larger concessional loans of up to $250,000 are also available for businesses who need additional support.

“The Albanese Government is pleased to work with the Queensland Government to deliver help as quickly as possible to support the FNQ economy.”

Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minster for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum:

“We want to get assistance to Queenslanders affected by this disaster as quickly as possible.

"The Queensland Government is committed to supporting the residents, business and councils across northern Queensland during these challenging times.

“Cairns has experienced its largest flood in over a century, roads have been cut, and communities isolated.

“I’m pleased the Australian Government has supported our request to activate the extraordinary small business disaster assistance grants of up to $50,000 through the DRFA.

“The impacts of the cyclone are still being felt, and the true extent of the damage won’t be known until the waters recede, but we know from past experience disaster assistance can be the difference between a business re-opening quickly, or remaining closed forever.

“Small businesses play a critical role in our communities and we want to provide them with the assistance they need to help get them back on their feet as soon as possible..

“The road to recovery is long, but we will work shoulder to shoulder with communities and councils, and work with the Albanese Government should further assistance be required.

“I have spoken to Queensland’s Small Business Commissioner who is waiving mediation fees for impacted small businesses – a saving of $371 which will promote access to mediation and help resolve leasing disputes quickly and affordably.

“I encourage all impacted small businesses with leasing concerns to contact the Queensland Small Business Commissioner for information and advice.”

Quotes attributable to the Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb:

"We know from past natural disasters that small business tenants and their landlords may need support in resolving disputes that have arisen from the disaster event, such as disagreements about repairs of the leased premises.

“The QSBC is ready to support impacted small businesses to help informally resolve these disputes and, if necessary, provide them with impartial mediation through an experienced and accredited mediator to come to an agreement.

“I have exercised my statutory power to waive the mediation fees for impacted businesses to help promote access to mediation and ensure there is no financial barrier for businesses to access this vital service”.

Further information:

DRFA Category B disaster assistance loans for small businesses are available in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook Shire, Douglas Shire, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah Council areas.

Disaster assistance concessional loans of up to $250,000 are available to small business operators to repair or replace damaged buildings, plant and equipment, or stock.

Disaster assistance essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 are available to small businesses that have suffered a significant loss of income for essential working capital required to continue business operations.

For more information, or to apply for a grant or loan, please call the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) on 1800 623 946 or visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

Additional information on disaster assistance can be found at www.qra.qld.gov.au

Queensland Small Business Commissioner

The Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb has exercised the power to waive mediation fees for a class of parties under section 6(3) of the Small Business Commissioner Regulation 2022.

Parties to a retail shop lease or small business lease located in the following Local government areas at the time of Tropical Cyclone Jasper will be eligible for the mediation fee waiver:

• Cairns Regional Local Government Area
• Cassowary Coast Local Government Area
• Cook Shire Local Government Area
• Douglas Shire Local Government Area
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Local Government Area
• Mareeba Shire Local Government Area
• Tablelands Regional Local Government Area
• Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Local Government Area
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Local Government Area

The period of the waiver is for disputes lodged with the QSBC between 13 December 2023 to 13 June 2024.

The mediation fee will be reduced from $371 to $0.

Additional information on the types of disputes the Small Business Commissioner can mediate, and other supports offered by the QSBC can be found at https://qsbc.qld.gov.au/get-help/

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister Watt: Tali Eley 0499 770 772

Queensland Small Business Commissioner: 0410 180 157