Queensland Floods and Cyclone Ului - March 2010

Disaster Relief Appeal Fund

On 4 March 2010, Queensland’s Premier, Anna Bligh announced the Disaster Relief Appeal Fund to assist people affected by the recent flooding. The Commonwealth Government announced on 22 March 2010 that it will contribute $500,000 to the Appeal. This is in addition to assistance already being provided, including through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, to many of the areas impacted by the floods.

Joint Media Release – Minister Macklin - Additional assistance for Queensland Flood Victims

South-west Queensland Floods

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) has been activated to assist people who have been adversely affected by the storm damage and associated flooding that began on 1 March 2010 and affected the Banana, Murweh, Maranoa, Quilpie and Western Downs regional council areas of Queensland and continued on to affect other areas of Queensland downstream from the Banana, Murweh, Maranoa, Quilpie and Western Downs regional council areas.

Assistance

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment rate is $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child. Claims for this assistance can be lodged at Centrelink until 6 September 2010.

This payment will be made available where:

  1. a person was seriously injured; or
  2. a person was isolated in their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more;
  3. a person was unable to return to their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more;
  4. a person’s principal place of residence has been destroyed;
  5. a person’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage;
  6. a person’s principal place of residence experienced utility failure for a period of 48 hours or more; or
  7. a person is a principal carer of a dependent child, and
    • the dependent child is seriously injured; or
    • the dependent child was isolated in their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more; or
    • the dependent child was unable to return to their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more; or
    • the dependent child’s principal place of residence has been destroyed; or
    • the dependent child’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage; or
    • the dependent child’s principal place of residence experienced utility failure for a period of 48 hours or more.

For more information on eligibility or if you have any queries, please visit the Centrelink website or contact the Australian Government's South West Queensland Floods Hotline on 180 2122.


Media Release

Media releases Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Help for flood-affected people in South-west Queensland and Disaster Recovery Payment for people affected by south-west Queensland floods.


Additional Assistance Under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)

Sixty four of Queensland’s 73 local government areas (LGA’s) are now eligible for disaster relief assistance under the Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements from rainfall and associated flooding during January to March 2010, and the impacts of tropical Cyclone Ului.

Assistance under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements is being administered by the Attorney-General’s Department in cooperation with the Queensland Government and includes:

  • Counter Disaster Operations and Restoration of Essential Public Assets assistance available in all affected local government areas.
  • Personal Hardship and Distress assistance available in Balonne, Banana, Bulloo, Mackay, Maranoa, Murweh, Quilpie, Paroo and Western Downs and Whitsunday council areas.
  • Concessional loans for small businesses and primary producers and freight subsidies for primary producers are available in Balonne, Banana, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Bulloo, Central Highlands Diamantina, Mackay, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Western Downs and Whitsunday council areas.
  • Clean-up and recovery grants of up to $5,000 for tier 1 and $20,000 for tier 2 for small businesses and primary producers are available in Balonne, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Bulloo, Diamantina, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Western Downs and Whitsunday council areas.

For people in Queensland seeking further information on other assistance available, such as personal hardship and distress (PHD) grants contact the Queensland Department of Communities, Disaster Relief Assistance Scheme hotline on 1800 173 349.

Further detail can be found in the Attorney-General's media releases.