New South Wales Floods (November - December 2010)
Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy (DIRS)
The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy provided assistance to employees, small business persons and farmers who lost income as a result of the flooding that commenced on 29 November 2010 and continued through December 2010, January 2011 and, February 2011. This flooding affected Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. The Subsidy provides fortnightly payments equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart allowance depending on the person's circumstances.
The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy was available to Australian residents or eligible foreign nationals who are older than 16. 'Eligible foreign nationals' include people who are on permanent visas (but who have not yet met the residency waiting period) and people who are on temporary skilled visas or temporary family visas.
Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy was not available to those already receiving another income support payment or pension such as Age Pension, Newstart Allowance, Service Pension or Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment.
The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy was payable for a period of up to 13 weeks.
Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)
This assistance is provided through the joint Australian and State government Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) and applies to the natural disaster declared areas in each state.
NDRRA assistance was made available for the following 67 local government areas as a result of the November 2010- December 2010 floods: Balranald, Bathurst, Berrigan, Blayney, Bland, Bogan, Boorowa, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Carrathol, Central Darling, Cobar, Conargo, Coolamon, Cooma-Monaro, Coonamble, Cootamundra, Corowa, Cowra, Dubbo, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn- Mulwaree, Greater Hume, Griffith, Gundagai, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Harden, Hay, Jerilderie, Junee, Lachlan, Leeton, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Mid-Western Regional, Moree Plains, Murray, Murrumbidgee, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narromine, Orange, Palerang, Parkes, Queanbeyan, Snowy River, Tamworth, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Unincorporated area of NSW, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan, Urana, Wagga Wagga, Wakool, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wellington, Wentworth, Yass and Young.
NDRRA assistance included:
- personal hardship and distress assistance
- certain counter disaster operations
- restoration of essential public assets
- concessional loans of up to $130,000 for small businesses and primary producers
- concessional loans of up to $25,000 for voluntary, non-profit organisations
- transport freight subsidies of up to $15,000 to assist primary producers for the carriage of livestock and fodder, and
- clean up and recovery grants of up to $15,000 for small businesses and primary producers.
Individuals suffering from personal hardship as a result of the flooding were eligible for emergency assistance.