Joint media release with The Hon Bill Shorten MP
As severe storms and flooding continue to impact large areas of New South Wales, the Australian Government has extended financial disaster assistance to more people in the state.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is now available to eligible people in an additional 4 local government areas (LGAs), bringing the total number of New South Wales LGAs receiving Commonwealth support for this event to 70.
The new LGAs are Bathurst, Oberon, Shellharbour, and Uralla.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance assists employees and sole traders who lose income as a direct result of a major disaster. People can receive this taxable payment for a maximum of 13 weeks.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) has been extended to the local government areas of Murray River and Wagga Wagga, making the one-off, non-means tested support available to a total of 10 New South Wales LGAs.
The payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is now available to people who have suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home, or a serious injury.
Equivalent financial assistance will also be available to eligible New Zealand citizens ('non-protected' Special Category Visas, subclass 444 holders).
The easiest way for people to claim is online through myGov, which is available 24 hours a day. People can find information on eligibility and how to apply on the Services Australia website: Natural disaster events - Natural disaster - Services Australia
If people need additional support to claim either of these payments, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
For information on all the assistance the Australian and respective state governments have made available to individuals, businesses and councils following the extensive recent flooding throughout Eastern Australia, visit https://nema.gov.au/
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt:
The Australian Government continues to make financial assistance available to local government areas and isolated communities to support people who have experienced loss and had their lives disrupted as a result of the floods.
This evolving disaster continues to impact large areas of the state, so we are constantly monitoring the situation and are working closely with all levels of government to get support out to where it's needed most.
This Australian Government-funded assistance will help provide immediate relief for people who are facing the worst of these floods.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Government Services, the Hon Bill Shorten:
AGDRP and DRA is now available in more communities to help meet the immediate needs of people who've been directly affected by this disaster.
Services Australia staff are working hard to make sure people get this support as quickly as possible.
I encourage impacted people to check their eligibility for these payments on the Services Australia website at Natural disaster events - Natural disaster - Services Australia
