Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have today extended assistance grants of up to $75,000 to flood-affected primary producers in Burke and Carpentaria.
Assistant Minister Reynolds said the assistance was being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
"The ongoing flood emergency in Queensland continues to impact more disaster-weary farmers, devastating livestock and destroying crops," the Assistant Minister said.
"It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of cattle in the north and west of Queensland have been killed as result of this record-breaking flood, and primary producers in Burke and Carpentaria are now in the impact zone.
"That's why we have extended access to grants of up to $75,000 for impacted primary producers in these areas, and are making them immediately available to support their critical needs.
"This latest extension now provides flood-affected primary producers in 11 local government areas access to these grants.
"The Commonwealth and Queensland governments continue to work closely to ensure communities are receiving the support they need."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the heartbreak of the enormity of the stock losses suffered in Queensland would stay with her for a long time.
"As the flooding impact extends further north-west, the shires of Burke and Carpentaria have been identified as also suffering significant stock losses and impacts to property, similar to those experienced elsewhere in western Queensland," Premier Palaszczuk said.
"The Flinders River in the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria has caused devastation and substantial stock losses for properties in the area.
"Similarly, flooding in the Leichhardt River has resulted in damage and loss of stock for primary producers in the Burke Shire.
"The grants that are already available in nine local government areas are now available to impacted primary producers in Burke and Carpentaria.
"The Queensland and Commonwealth governments remain committed to supporting the vital agricultural sector and our struggling famers.
"I would like to thank the Australian Government for working with Queensland so collaboratively to swiftly ensure we stand by people in the bush who are doing it tough."
The joint Commonwealth-Queensland DRFA grants of up to $75,000 are available to primary producers who have been severely impacted by recent flooding in Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Douglas, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Richmond, Townsville and Winton.
