Flood-hit small businesses in QLD thrown a $50,000 lifeline

The Queensland Government has announced a $50,000 support grant for small businesses affected by flooding after the Commonwealth agreed to a jointly funded $558.5 million support package to assist communities in need.

The announcement comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wrote to Scott Morrison last week requesting Category D assistance to help flood-affected communities.

As part of the package, primary producers can access grants of up to $75,000, not-for-profit organisations can access $50,000 and up to $20,000 is available for sport and community clubs and associations.

19 affected local government areas (LGAs) across Queensland will also receive a $1 million injection to assist with urgent clean-up works.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this package was the first phase of financial support to ensure flood-affected communities in Queensland get the support they need.

“I saw the devastation of this flood with my own eyes this week in Brisbane and I knew how important it was to get money in the hands of farmers, small businesses and local community groups across Queensland to help them rebuild and recover,” Morrison said.

“This initial package is in addition to the federally funded $1,000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small businesses, which to date has already paid out over $100 million, including $77 million to those affected in Queensland.

“We are continuing to work with the Queensland and New South Wales governments to develop further support packages to help them rebuild and respond as flood waters recede.”

The announcement follows the $434.7 million package handed out for flood-affected communities in NSW which will target small businesses, not-for-profits, primary producers, sporting and community organisations, and local governments for their immediate response.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state government was committed to backing small businesses and primary producers across the region to recover as quickly as possible.

“I’ve seen first-hand the devastation this event has caused Queensland communities, many of which had already done it tough through the COVID pandemic and when Ex Tropical Cyclone Seth hit our state just two months ago,” Palaszczuk said.

“It’s essential that we get our small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits back up and running again to support our local jobs, economy and communities.

“Many small businesses and not-for-profits are experiencing loss of infrastructure, equipment, stock and trading, and primary producers are again facing losses to crops, equipment and infrastructure, but through these grants we’re here to help them in their recovery.”

The payments are being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for eligible applicants in the 19 local government areas of Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.