More support and more time for flooded north Queenslanders

As the clean-up continues following the monsoon and flooding event in northern and central Queensland, more disaster support is being made available to impacted communities.

This includes an extension of time for Personal Hardship Assistance and the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme in Boulia and Doomadgee until Thursday 6 April, and support for Charters Towers Council to deliver counter disaster activities like sandbagging, and to repair essential infrastructure.

The assistance measures are jointly funded by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments under the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Personal Hardship Assistance provides $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five, to cover immediate emergency costs.

The Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme offers means-tested relief grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged essential services like electricity, gas and water.

Today’s funding application time extensions will alleviate some of the burdens on these isolated communities.

All flood-affected residents are encouraged to call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp to check their eligibility for the support measures available.

Further details on disaster assistance can be found via the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority website.

Jointly funded DRFA support for the Northern and Central Queensland Monsoon and Flooding event has been activated for 44 Queensland local government areas: Aurukun, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Central Highlands, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Diamantina, Doomadgee, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hope Vale, Isaac, Kowanyama, Livingstone, Lockhart River, Longreach, Mackay, Mapoon, Mareeba, McKinlay, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Richmond, Tablelands, Torres Shire, Townsville, Whitsunday, Winton, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.