This car goes under in floodwaters at Archerfield on Sunday, March 9. Photo: Queensland Fire Department
Federal financial support for residents in Qld and NSW directly affected by ex-cyclone Alfred will be available later today (March 11).
Under the Disaster Recovery Allowance, up to 13 weeks of income support is available for eligible workers and sole traders who have suffered a loss of income from the cyclone, the government says.
LGAs IDENTIFIED
Funding support will be available for the following local government areas:
- QUEENSLAND: Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs and Sunshine Coast.
- NEW SOUTH WALES: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glen Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Mid-Coast, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, Tweed and Lord Howe Island.
Click here for video of a swiftwater rescue of drivers near Nambour: https://youtu.be/PwaO305L3MA
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that “at the worst of times we see the best of the Australian character. That’s exactly what we’ve seen in the past week in Queensland and New South Wales”.
“My message to these communities in this difficult time is we’ve got your back and will support you through the recovery,” he said.
Government Services Minister Katy Gallagher said that “while the rain will continue to fall, it’s essential that we support communities who have lost income”.
“If you live in an impacted area and your employment has been affected, please visit the Services Australia website to check if you are eligible.”
ELIGIBIITY
To qualify for the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a person’s income must have fallen below the average weekly income as a result of floods.
Applications open at 2pm local time today (Tuesday, March 11).
Before they claim, people need to check their eligibility on the Services Australia website at: Natural disaster support (Services Australia).
The easiest way to claim is online through myGov.
If people need help to claim, they can call the Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
NSW HARDSHIP HELP
Affected residents in north-east NSW will also receive state and federal emergency financial help of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family in the form of a Personal Hardship Assistance Grant.
To be eligible, individuals must live in one of the declared affected LGAs (see list above), been subjected to an evacuation order or experienced power outages of more than 48 hours.
Applicants must demonstrate they have suffered hardship as result of the disaster, making them unable to meet immediate needs.
Applications will open on Wednesday, March 12, and stay open until April 8.
To find out more if you live in NSW, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery
