Disaster Recovery Allowance
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) provides income support payments to employees, primary producers and sole traders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the bushfires.
DRA provides fortnightly payments for up to 13 weeks up to the applicable rate of Newstart or Youth Allowance, depending on the person's circumstances.
DRA is available to Australian residents who are sixteen years and older.
DRA is not available to those already receiving another income support payment or pension such as the Age Pension, Newstart Allowance or Service Pension.
You have until 1 August 2019 to lodge a claim for DRA in the local government areas of Central Highlands, Derwent Valley, Huon Valley and West Coast.
For more information on eligibility, visit the
Department of Human Services (Centrelink) website or contact the Australian Government Information Hotline on 180 22 66 for claims for assistance.
New Zealand ex-gratia income support allowance
An ex-gratia income support allowance is available to eligible New Zealand 'non-protected' special category visa (SCV) (subclass 444) holders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the bushfires.
The income support allowance provides fortnightly payments for up to 13 weeks up to the applicable rate of Newstart or Youth Allowance, depending on the person's circumstances.
The allowance is available to SCV holders who are sixteen years and older.
You have until 1 August 2019 to lodge a claim for DRA in the local government areas of Central Highlands, Derwent Valley, Huon Valley and West Coast.
For more information on eligibility, visit the
Department of Human Services (Centrelink) website or contact the Australian Government Information Hotline on 180 22 66 for claims for assistance.
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
The joint Australian, state and territory governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provide a range of financial assistance to the natural disaster-declared areas in each state or territory.
For the bushfires in Tasmania in December 2018 and January 2019, the available assistance measures include:
- personal hardship and distress assistance
- restoration of essential public assets
- freight subsidies to primary producers
- counter disaster operations
Economic and Community Recovery Fund
The fund consists of four recovery initiatives for the:
- Restoration and reinstatement of recreational assets, including: walking tracks, road restoration, bridges and other infrastructure.
- Social recovery initiatives including: personal and social support and mentoring for community leaders and psychological health first aid training.
- Economic and Community Recovery initiatives including: grant programs and tourism campaigns.
- Temporary employment of dedicated recovery officers.
Small Business Disruption Grants available under a special scheme for eligible small businesses. Grants of up to $2,000 are available to assist small businesses affected by the bushfires to meet immediate operating costs.
For information on available recovery assistance, visit the
Tasmanian Government Emergency Management website.
For further information on recovery arrangements, visit the
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements page.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will replace passports that have been lost or damaged in declared natural disasters free of charge, visit the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
