Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds today announced that the Australian Government will provide income assistance to people affected by record-breaking monsoonal rainfall and flooding in northern Queensland and disaster recovery payments to those whose homes have been lost or severely damaged.
Assistance is being provided through the activation of the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) and Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP)
Affected individuals in the Burdekin, Cook, Douglas, Townsville and Wujal Wujal local government areas can now apply for this assistance.
“Heavy rain and widespread flooding is causing major disruption and distress to communities in northern Queensland,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.
“Our thoughts are with those whose households have been inundated with flood waters.
“Livelihoods have been disrupted as businesses are left without supplies or are forced to close.
“It will take time for lives to return to normal and these payments will ensure that those affected have additional assistance to help them recover as quickly as possible.”
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 directly damaged and people who have been seriously injured.
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 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, call 180 22 66, or visit an Australian Government Department of Human Services service centre. The hotline will be open business hours 8am to 5pm from Tuesday 5 February 2019.
More information on Australian Government disaster assistance is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au.
