Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds today announced the activation of Category C recovery grants for primary producers left devastated by widespread flooding in North Queensland.
Assistant Minister Reynolds said the Category C assistance, being provided through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), would provide impacted primary producers in seven local government areas with grants of up to $25,000.
“The unprecedented flooding from the monsoon trough in northern and western Queensland called for an extraordinary response to aid recovery,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.
“Farmers in parts of Queensland are watching their stock die and their crops ruined by this protracted and devastating flood.
“Gut-wrenching information has come through about stock losses of 25 to 50 per cent of entire herds of cattle and groups of 300 to 400 cattle clustered along fence lines as well as dead animals in flood water flowing through and around towns.
“There are also animals, weakened by the drought, isolated by floodwaters and unable to reach fodder.
“This assistance will help affected primary producers with their clean up and recovery efforts.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the Commonwealth Government approval of the extraordinary assistance for farmers.
