Summary North QLD Flood payments
30 April 2019
The North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency (NQLIRA) was established by the Federal Government on 1 March 2019 and moved quickly to meet with and provide support to flood-affected communities. NQLIRA came with a message of hope, not more debt – that is why assistance was focused mainly on grant programs. The guiding principle of NQLIRA and the Advisory Board was that the response would be locally led, locally understood, and locally implemented. What funding had been provided as at end of April 2019? More than $3.3 billion had been paid or committed. This included over $1 billion which had already been paid or planned to be paid in the financial year. Over $52 million had been paid to 891 primary producers in Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants (up to $75,000 per eligible primary producer). Over $4 million had been paid to 363 small businesses and not-for-profit organizations in Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants (up to $50,000 per eligible small business or not-for-profit organization). $300 million had been allocated for restocking, replanting, and on-farm infrastructure grants (up to $400,000 per eligible primary producer) – these grants were matched by a 50% co-contribution and were available from 1 May 2019. Over $112 million had been paid to over 96,000 applicants under the Commonwealth’s Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance. Measures announced as part of the 2019-20 Budget were subject to the budget being passed by an incoming government decision. Who decided what shires were eligible for disaster recovery assistance? The Queensland Government was responsible for declaring the affected areas. The Australian Government had aligned additional support with these declarations. Why were some applications for the up to $75,000 recovery assistance funding rejected? Only a small number of applications were rejected. The main reasons were: that applicants were not primary producers as the majority of their income was not from primary production, and some primary producers had multiple properties under one ABN and had applied for several grants but were only eligible for one. If an applicant was unhappy with the decision, they could ask QRIDA for a review of the decision. What support was available to a small business that wasn’t flooded but relied on primary producers for their livelihood? Businesses that had suffered a significant financial loss as a result of the floods were eligible for the Queensland Government’s concessional loans of up to $100,000 - Disaster Assistance Loan and Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans. The loans could cover such things as paying salaries or wages; paying creditors; paying rent or rates; repairing damaged buildings or equipment. Over $1.2 million had been paid to 12 small businesses in Disaster Assistance Loans and Essential Working Capital Loans. What about farmers who had de-stocked because of drought? Were they eligible for support? QRIDA (QLD Govt), took into consideration the impact of drought, for example, off-farm work, and sought to determine the pre-drought position of applicants when assessing applications. Primary producers who could demonstrate they had the potential to become full-time primary producers, and who suffered losses as a result of the floods, may have been eligible for assistance. What was the Agency doing to support the next generation of farmers? Primary producers who could demonstrate their potential to become full-time primary producers, and who suffered losses as a result of the floods, could apply for recovery assistance.
- Time period: Australian Public Service
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