Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have today extended the activation of Category C recovery grants for primary producers impacted by the protracted and devastating floods in Queensland's north and north west.
Assistant Minister Reynolds said the Category C assistance, being provided through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), has been extended to impacted primary producers in Flinders Shire Council and Winton Shire Council with grants of up to $25,000.
"The unprecedented flooding continues to devastate communities in Queensland's north, far north, central and western communities, with losses of up to 1000 head of stock being reported by property owners in the region," Assistant Minister Reynolds said.
"Farmers are watching their stock, weakened by drought, now standing bogged in waterlogged paddocks unable to reach fodder, and their crops ruined.
"This funding will go some way to assisting primary producers with the large and gut-wrenching clean up and recovery effort ahead."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the Commonwealth Government's extension of extraordinary assistance for farmers in Flinders and Winton.
"As this disaster extends to more and more communities across the north and west of Queensland, so too does our assistance in this region," Premier Palaszczuk said.
"The whole of Queensland are behind our farmers, who have endured years of drought and now find themselves facing an uncertain future due to the unprecedented flooding emergency.
"The Queensland Government will continue to work closely with the Australian Government to ensure impacted communities get the funding and support they need for recovery.
"This follows the activation of Category C grants for primary producers in Burdekin, Douglas, Townsville, Hinchinbrook, Cloncurry, McKinlay and Richmond.
"As further impacts are known, Category C funding for primary producers may be extended to additional local government areas."
The Category C clean-up and recovery grants are available from QRIDA at www.qrida.qld.gov.au or by calling 1800 623 946.
