Personal Hardship Assistance has been extended to residents of Carpentaria who have been impacted by recent flooding.
The State and Federal Governments will provide emergency payments of $180 per individual and up to $900 for a family of five or more.
The funds are for essentials such as food, medicine and clothing.
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said eligible uninsured residents in Carpentaria could also apply for three income-tested grants to assist with replacing essential household items, reconnecting essential services, and repairing flood damaged homes.
The funding is provided through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Carpentaria Shire is the latest area activated for hardship assistance, with eligible residents in Clermont, targeted areas of the Mackay LGA, and Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton Shires also being encouraged to apply.
Applications can be made at www.disaster.qld.gov.au or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 (24 hours).
Another eight councils have also been activated for DRFA assistance to recoup the costs of their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets.
These councils include Barcaldine, Barcoo, Boulia, Cairns, Kowanyama, Longreach, Mapoon, and Torres Strait Island, taking the total number of DRFA activated local governments in response to the North Queensland Monsoon Trough and ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji to 39.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the government wanted to ensure everyone affected by the floods could access the appropriate assistance.
“During extended disaster events like this, it’s essential nobody slips through the cracks and support is delivered promptly where it’s needed,” Ms McBain said.
The following is a full summary of help available.
- Emergency Hardship Assistance – $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 – income-tested assistance for uninsured residents, 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 whitegoods.
- 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.
