Joint media release with the Hon Ann Leahy MP
- Financial assistance is available to eligible Moreton Bay and Fraser Coast residents impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
- Eligible residents can apply for a range of hardship grants including emergency assistance for food, clothing and medicine.
- Personal hardship grants is now activated for five SEQ local government areas.
The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments are extending Personal Hardship Assistance to eligible residents across the City of Moreton Bay, and targeted localities on the Fraser Coast, who were impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Assistance has been activated for the entire Moreton Bay council area, while eligible localities on the Fraser Coast include the suburbs of Booral, Eli Waters, Kawungan, Pialba, Point Vernon, River Heads, Scarness, Torquay, Urangan, Urraween, and Wondunna in the Hervey Bay area as well as K'gari.
Support includes Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants of $180 for individuals, up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
Uninsured residents may also be eligible to income-tested grants to reconnect damaged services, or to carry out structural repairs on their home to make it safe and habitable.
Eligible residents can apply via www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
Support has been made available through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the Albanese Government is working hand in glove with the Queensland Government through the immediate event and into recovery.
"We are working with the Queensland Government to extend financial assistance to more communities as they recover from the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
"As more impact data from this event becomes available, we will continue activating appropriate support for impacted communities.
"We know recovery will take time, but we are here for the long haul."
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the Crisafulli Government was delivering help to Queenslanders to recover from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as quickly as possible.
"We have been clear there will be no daylight between response and recovery, and this funding will provide immediate support," Minister Leahy said.
"This funding will cover emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
"The Crisafulli Government will extend every assistance measure to Queenslanders who need it most."
Minister Leahy said uninsured residents could also access income-tested grants to reconnect power and water, and to make critical structural repairs to their home.
More information:
This announcement extends the list of SEQ local government areas activated for Personal Hardship Assistance to five: Fraser Coast Regional Council (targeted localities), City of Gold Coast, Logan City Council, City of Moreton Bay and Redland City Council.
DRFA support has also been activated for the councils of Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs and Sunshine Coast Councils, allowing them to access funds for their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets.
Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme
- Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants - $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance - $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.
- Essential Household Contents Grants - up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.
- Structural Assistance Grants - up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.
Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme
- Income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.
