The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will each invest $360 million to support a new Phase 3 Floods Recovery Package for Queensland under Category C and D of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The Federal Government’s investment in the $720.61 million package follows consultation with the Federal Opposition.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this new investment brought the Federal Government’s total financial support for Queensland’s flood recovery to more than $1.76 billion.
“My Government has always backed Queenslanders in good times and in difficult times, and today we extend that support further,” the Prime Minister said.
“The terrible floods that we saw earlier this year will take many months to rebuild from, and we’ll stand with resilient Queenslanders every step of the way on that journey to recovery.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Category C and D funding is welcome.
“I’ve always said we work best when we work together,” the Premier said.
“I’m pleased the Federal Government has agreed to our request.”
Minister for Emergency Management Bridget McKenzie said the package included new funding for mental health, environmental measures and economic initiatives.
“These investments are the dividend of a strong economy, because when you have a strong budget you can afford to fund the essential services that Australians rely upon,” Minister McKenzie said.
“Long after flood waters recede, continuing support from governments is needed and that’s what this package delivers.”
The package includes:
- Human and Social Recovery Package: $20 million in flexible funding grants; $24.5 million for a community health and wellbeing package; $121.1 million for an accommodation package; and more than $12 million for a community development program.
- Economic Recovery Package: $2.5 million for industry recovery and resilience officers; $14.5 million for a small business support package; $7 million for a tourism recovery and resilience package; $3 million for a rural landholder recovery grant program; and $150 million for medium to large business recovery loans.
- Environmental Recovery Package: $28.9 million for an environmental recovery package; and $28 million for a flood risk management package.
- Infrastructure and Built Recovery Package: $150 million for a community and recreational assets program; $150 million for betterment for roads and transport assets; and $4 million for local recovery and resilience grants.
- Monitoring and evaluation program: $5 million for monitoring and evaluation of the package.
The Commonwealth’s significant contribution to Queensland’s flood recovery effort has included the deployment of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), direct funding to Queenslanders from the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) and the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP), as well as the Phase 1 and Phase 2 packages. Residents across 23 local government areas have been supported, with more than $450.3 million distributed in direct Commonwealth payments to Queenslanders.