The Albanese Government has taken swift action to deliver financial assistance to individuals directly affected by the devastating floods in Far North Queensland.
Applications for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) have opened for residents in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal, and Yarrabah Local Government Areas (LGAs).
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The AGDRP offers a one-off payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child who has experienced significant losses due to the floods.
This includes severe damage or destruction of homes and serious injuries. On the other hand, the DRA provides up to 13 weeks of federal income support to assist eligible employees or sole traders who face a loss of income directly resulting from the disaster.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “The devastation we have seen over the past few days in Far North Queensland has been horrific.”
“My Government stands with the people of Queensland now during the response and will continue to do so through the recovery phase of this disaster. This will deliver emergency support to help families get back on their feet in the coming days,” he said.
Equivalent financial assistance is also available to eligible New Zealand citizens holding “non-protected Special Category” and “subclass 444” visas.
To check eligibility and submit claims, affected individuals can visit the Services Australia website.
Additionally, a Centrelink multilingual phone service is accessible at 131 202 for those seeking assistance in their language.
Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said: “We are making this financial help available now because the economic impact of disasters like these is felt long after the flood water has gone.”
“There are still tough days, weeks, and months ahead for many people, and the recovery process will take some time.”
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