Disaster assistance has been extended for communities in Burke Shire Council as the monsoonal floods continue to impact Gulf communities.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is in addition to the assistance already activated for the region.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford and Federal Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said the extension of assistance would provide some relief to remote communities.
“Through the DRFA, personal hardship assistance payments and essential services reconnection grants are available in Burke Shire to help cover items such as food, medication and clothing,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.
“Remote communities in Burke Shire are going through some very trying times so we have worked closely with the Queensland Government to extend the available assistance to that region.”
Mr Crawford said a range of assistance measures are now available to flood affected residents of Burke Shire.
“This latest round of DRFA assistance now available in Burke will provide impacted individuals up to $180 per person, or up to $900 for a family of five to help with their recovery,” he said.
“This is in addition to the disaster relief measures already available in Burke including assistance for primary producers as well as funding for the local council to repairs its damaged road network.
“Both the Commonwealth and Queensland governments are committed to helping our remote communities through this ongoing flood crisis, and will continue to use DRFA to address the greatest needs.”
A range of DRFA assistance is now available in 31 local government areas in northern and western Queensland: Barcoo, Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Cairns, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Diamantina, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Longreach, Mackay, Mareeba, McKinlay, Mornington, Mount Isa, Palm Island, Richmond, Townsville, Whitsunday, Winton, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at and the Queensland Government’s Disaster Management website at .
