Joint media release with Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher
As the Albanese Government continues to work with the Queensland Government and local authorities, it is providing federal financial assistance measures to support more Queenslanders impacted by severe weather events since late last year.
From 2:00pm local time on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be available for eligible people in the following locations: Chinchilla in the Western Downs Local Government Area (LGA), as well as Bundaberg Central, Bundaberg East, Bundaberg North and Bundaberg South in the Bundaberg LGA.
This support is for Queenslanders who have been directly impacted by the rainfall and flooding events commencing 14 February 2026.
This includes major damage to their home, serious injury, or loss of a loved one as a direct result of the rainfall and flooding. It's a one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will also be available for eligible people impacted by this event in the following locations: Aurukun, Banana, Barcaldine, Boulia, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Central Highlands, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Croydon, Diamantina, Doomadgee, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gympie, Isaac, Livingstone, Mackay, McKinlay, Mount Isa, North Burnett, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Richmond, Rockhampton, South Burnett, Townsville, Western Downs, Whitsunday, Winton and Yarrabah.
Further, the DRA has been extended for those impacted by the North Queensland rainfall and flooding event from December 2025 to February 2026 in the following LGAs: Aurukun, Barcaldine, Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Central Highlands, Isaac, Livingstone, Mackay, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Townsville, Whitsunday and Yarrabah
DRA supports people who've lost income as a direct result of this event by providing up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances.
Impact assessments are undertaken by emergency management agencies as locations become safe to access. Those impact assessments allow the Australian Government to activate additional support for those communities.
These payments are on top of the other recovery assistance that has been activated under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to help households, small businesses, primary producers and councils.
People can check their eligibility for AGDRP and DRA on the Services Australia website.
The quickest way to claim AGDRP and DRA is online through myGov.
If people need help to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
To change or pause Centrelink debt repayments, affected people can do so online or in the mobile app (through the Money You Owe service), or by calling 1800 076 072.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Government Services Katy Gallagher
"It's an anxious time for many people as recovery continues from recent floods while also attending to the impacts of Cyclone Narelle.
"We've extended the Disaster Recovery Allowance to locations in Queensland and announced the Australian Government Disaster Recovery payment for eligible locations.
"I encourage anyone impacted by the floods between December and March to check their eligibility on the Services Australia website, claims open from 2pm local time on Tuesday 24 March 2026."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain
"This continues to be a challenging high risk weather season for regional Queenslanders who have gone through severe weather events since December last year and unfortunately, we're not out of danger yet.
"Having seen firsthand the damage, we know that this will be a long recovery and the assistance we're announcing will help people with their immediate needs.
"We will continue to work closely with all levels of government on further requests for assistance to support medium and long term recovery."
