Joint media release with Jaclyn Symes MLC
Eight months after the devastating Victorian floods, the Albanese and Andrews Governments are continuing to collaborate on long-term recovery support for flood-impacted Victorians, with over $1.17 billion committed in jointly-funded support being made available for affected communities.
The severe weather and flooding event caused significant damage and disruption to communities for an extended time, with two fatalities in floodwaters, large scale evacuations resulting in 783 flood and 131 road rescues, more than 2,000 people accessing temporary accommodation and approximately 12,230 agricultural properties impacted.
The measures available in 63 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and one Alpine area include:
- State-wide clean-up ($150 million): to support a state-wide coordinated clean-up assistance package.
- Community Recovery Officers ($6 million): to deploy Community Recovery Officers to impacted LGAs to help identify the recovery needs of individuals and families and support government to identify further recovery needs.
- Business and Not-For-Profit Organisation grants ($462 million): up to $50,000 grants for small businesses and non-profit organisations directly impacted by the floods.
- Medium-large business grants ($21 million): up to $200,000 grants for eligible medium to large businesses directly impacted by the floods.
- Business Chamber and Trader Group grants ($5.25 million): up to $50,000 grants for directly impacted Business Chamber and Trader Groups.
- Primary Producer grants ($238.01 million): up to $75,000 grants for eligible primary producers directly impacted by the floods.
- Rural Landholder grants ($65.21 million): up to $25,000 grants for directly impacted rural landholders, not eligible for assistance under existing support mechanisms.
- Business recovery support package ($18.63 million): for additional support services for directly impacted businesses to facilitate the development of recovery plans, provide mental health support and assist in grant applications.
- Primary Producer recovery support package ($2.688 million): to support the delivery of workshops on technical decision-making after floods, equipping farmers with the skills and knowledge to make the best choices for the businesses and make a clear plan for the future, as well extension of the Rural Financial Counselling Service and mental health support.
- Environmental support package ($105.52 million): to support emergency stabilisation works on public land, repairs to critical water infrastructure, mitigation of threatened species, and assessment of heritage listed assets and Aboriginal heritage places.
- Community support package ($63.64 million): to expand legal assistance, family violence and housing and homelessness services, establishment of recovery hubs and technical support for secondary impact assessments, expansion of mental health support for emergency service workers and support to Rochester Taskforce and Rochester Community House.
- Health support package ($2.1 million): to support for vector borne disease control activities, expansion of the Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership and environmental health workforce.
- Council Support Fund ($34.25 million): grants for impacted councils for clean-up and recovery activities.
In addition to the above support, the Albanese Government has paid over $57.8 million in disaster recovery payments since claims opened on 16 October 2022.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said both governments recognised the importance of bolstering community support services to aid the recovery of local communities.
“This widespread disaster has been devastating for Victorians. We worked quickly with the Andrews Government after the floods to deliver clean up, environmental and housing support, but as the recovery efforts progress, we are very focused on what else communities need to recover in the longer term,” Minister Watt said.
“We know that community and mental health support measures are very important to that process. I’d encourage anyone who is yet to seek assistance to check the website and apply.”
Victorian Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said the dedication of emergency services and local community members should be highlighted in their management of the immediate floods.
“Our work with the Commonwealth has allowed us to provide them the support they need as they continue their recovery,” Minister Symes said.
The National Emergency Management Agency continues to work closely with the Victorian Government on additional recovery needs that Victoria may identify.
More information about the assistance being delivered through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements is available at
Disaster Assist.
