Minister for Defence Industry, Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery, Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds today announced the extension of the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) and Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) to flood- affected residents in the areas of Carpentaria, Hinchinbrook, Torres and Torres Strait Island.

“As the flood waters continue to recede, it is clear more individuals and families have been left devastated by this crisis,” Minister Reynolds said.

“The Australian Government is committed to standing by those who have lost their homes or livelihoods to ensure they have all the assistance they need.

“This assistance is also designed to maintain the local workforce in disaster affected areas and support long term economic and community recovery.

“It is a difficult time for the region so I encourage individuals who have been impacted to take advantage of this assistance and the other support provided by the Australian Government.”

The DRA provides a short-term income support payment to assist individuals who can demonstrate their income has been affected as a direct result of the floods. People eligible for DRA can access income assistance for up to 13 weeks, equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance.

The AGDRP provides a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children who have been adversely affected by the floods.

AGDRP is available for people whose homes have been lost or damaged and people who have been seriously injured or lost an immediate family member.

Equivalent financial assistance will also be available to eligible New Zealand citizens (‘non-protected’ Special Category Visa, subclass 444 holders) affected by the flooding.

“The DRA and AGDRP is now available in 18 flood-affected areas,” Minister Reynolds said.

“The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments continue to work closely together to ensure all available support and assistance has been provided to affected communities.”

The 18 LGAs activated for AGDRP and DRA are Burke, Burdekin, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Doomadgee, Douglas, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Palm Island, Richmond, Torres, Torres Strait Island, Townsville, Winton and Wujal Wujal.

The Australian Government assistance announced today is over and above the support already being provided for these areas under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

For more information or to make a claim visit www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster or call 180 22 66.

More information on Australian Government disaster assistance is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au.