Thousands of landholders across flood-affected southern and central Queensland have gained an eight-month reprieve from paying their land rent.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the rent deferrals brought further relief to communities from Goondiwindi to Gympie hit by the devastating floods earlier this month, as well as the Gladstone region, which was impacted in February.
"This assistance means that eligible landholders who had land rent due in March now don't need to pay until December 1," Minister Stewart said.
"This decision will give many primary producers, residents, businesses, and charities an extra eight months to not have to worry about paying a bill.
"That means farmers can focus on feeding Queenslanders, charities' finances can be freed up to assist people who need help, and businesses can build back better.
"This is just another way to ensure these communities can focus on cleaning up and getting back on their feet in the aftermath of the floods.
"Land rent deferral is another small part of the Palaszczuk Government's plan for economic recovery from COVID-19 and the floods."
Minister Stewart said more than 3100 landowners with a combined rental of about $19.5 million were eligible for the deferral.
"This extends land rent relief already in place for more than 300 landholders in the Fraser Coast, North and South Burnett and Gympie local governments who were battered by storms in heavy rainfall from ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth," he said.
Eligible local government areas include Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland City, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
The latest assistance comes on top of extensive Palaszczuk Government recovery programs and support measures, estimated by the Treasurer last week to cost up to $2.5 billion this financial year.
Those measures include:
- Emergency hardship grants of $180 per person up to $900 for a family of five or more
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grant
- Essential Household Contents Grant**
- Structural Assistance Grant**
- Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant**
