Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants (Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding)

Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants (Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding) is sponsored by Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) (jointly funded by Commonwealth and Queensland Governments). Grants are available for primary producers affected by the Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding (March - May 2025) to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing, and other recovery costs.

Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants - Western Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants - Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants are available to assist directly impacted primary producers, small businesses and non profit organisations with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement.

What assistance is available? Grants of up to $75,000 are available for affected producers following the Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, 21 March -19 May 2025, to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing and other costs associated with the recovery process. Producers should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application/s.

Applicants need to show they are an eligible primary producer, within the declared disaster area and demonstrate they have suffered direct impact from the disaster. Read below and the guidelines for more information. The maximum grant amount is $75,000 and can be accessed through the following: Initial application/s up to the total amount of $5,000 is available to support an initial claim.

Evidence of the direct damage is required such as photographs and quotations, tax invoices or official receipts. Subsequent application/s up to the total amount of $70,000 is available to support subsequent claims for which full evidence of payment is required. Complete applications are assessed in order of receipt and QRIDA may request further information to help assess an application.

Providing you have the required documentation and meet eligibility; you can apply for the grant over a number of applications or two separate applications. If you have estimates or quotes to the value of $5,000, then you can make an initial application for the full $5,000 If you only have estimates or quotes to the value of $5,000, you can choose to submit an initial application for that $5,000.

Any subsequent applications for further assistance will require you to demonstrate how you have spent the initial $5,000, and all additional amounts, by providing evidence, such as receipts or invoices and proof of the payment of these. This initial amount is to support with cash flow back into the business with either deposits, small payments and more.

You have now spent the initial $5,000 on deposits and/or minor work and require additional funding to complete the work Once you have applied for and received the initial funding, any subsequent applications for further assistance will require you to demonstrate how you have spent the initial funding, and all additional amounts, by providing evidence, such as receipts or invoices and proof of the payment of these.

You can apply for subsequent funding amounts as many times as you need until you reach the total amount. How can the assistance help you?

Eligible clean-up, reinstatement activities and emergency measures include: Equipment and materials to undertake clean-up Additional labour costs (above and beyond normal wage expenditure i.e. day-to-day staffing) Disposing of damaged goods such as lost or damaged crops, and injured or dead livestock, including associated costs Repairs to buildings (other than housing) Fencing not covered by any other assistance Reconditioning/ repairing essential plant and equipment Salvaging crops, grain and feeds Purchase or hire/ lease costs for equipment essential to the immediate resumption of the business Payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections Essential repairs to premises and internal fittings that is not covered by insurance Replacing deceased livestock Replacing lost or damaged crops (including pasture-based crop and sugar cane) with the same or comparable crop Replacing lost or damaged plants (including root stock, seedlings, seeds and tube stock).

Do you meet the definition of primary producer as outlined in the Guidelines? Do you hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster? Do you have a primary production enterprise that is located in the defined area for the eligible disaster that has suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster?

Have you been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster? Are you primarily responsible for meeting the costs you wish to claim in the application? Do you have evidence of damage (e.g. photos, videos etc)?

Do you intend to re-establish your primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster? Did you sustain direct physical damage to your business or property as a result of the event? You may be eligible for a Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant.

Click on the Apply Now button to complete an application on QRIDA’s online portal or download a PDF application. For assistance, please contact your local Regional Area Manager on 1800 623 946. You may not be eligible for this assistance.

Please contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946 to discuss your individual circumstance. The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, commencing 21 March.

To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas: Barcaldine Regional Council Blackall-Tambo Regional Council What documents do I need to provide with my application? If you have already applied for assistance from QRIDA please provide your QRIDA Client ID Number. Please do not mail original documents as we are unable to return them.

Financial statements and tax returns Financial statements including Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet The latest available Income Tax Return/s will be satisfactory, this is downloadable from your ATO portal. Rates Notice / Lease Agreement Your enterprise must be located within a defined disaster area.

If you own the property, please attach a copy of your most recent Local Government rates notice for the property impacted by the disaster event. If you lease the property, please attach a copy of your current lease agreement (lease agreement must confirm that you are responsible for meeting the costs being claimed). 5 - 10 photographs evidencing direct damage.

For grant applications up to $5,000 (i.e. for immediate resumption of business directly following the disaster event): Copies of tax invoices or quotes/estimates For grant applications over $5,000 or subsequent applications up to $70,000 Copies of tax invoices AND evidence that these invoices have been paid (e.g. bank statements, electronic bank transfer confirmations or official supplier receipts).

If insured, full details and a copy of your insurance policy and/or claim must be provided. Please be aware QRIDA is unable to finalise your Disaster Assistance Grant application until the outcome of your insurance claim is determined and formal advice of the claim outcome is provided.

If you are eligible to claim under your insurance policy, you must do so, and have that claim finalised before lodging an application for grant assistance. QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) assistance Establishment Notice - Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding (PDF, 118KB) Disaster Recovery Connect - Personalised QRIDA Support Applications close 2 October 2026. A new application must be completed for an initial and subsequent application.

Applications can be submitted online via QRIDA's Application Portal or by downloading the application form and submitting to QRIDA by email or post. For optimum experience using this portal, please use Google Chrome as your browser. If using the paper application form, please ensure you download and save to your computer before completing the form.

To email your application, please attach documents as a pdf, jpeg, png, doc or excel. Please do not send links.

Application tips for primary producers - Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding (PDF, 671KB) Guideline Interpretation Guide - Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding (PDF, 688KB) Applicant journey map (PDF 115KB) Download primary producer application form (PDF, 628KB) Apply online via QRIDA Application Portal Frequently asked questions How has the definition of primary production enterprise definition changed?

The definition of primary production enterprise has been expanded under the joint Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Primary production enterprise now includes businesses that support primary production, thus the income from those services that support primary production such as harvesting and mustering services.

Other examples include classifications under Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Division A, Subdivision 05 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Support Services such as: shearing business, mustering business, silage baling business, farm irrigation services, timber plantation maintenance services.

Income from these types of support services will now be considered primary production income for the purposes of determining eligibility as a primary producer under DRFA schemes. See separate FAQ for the definition of a primary producer under DRFA guidelines. This change has been applied retrospectively to Queensland's 2025 disaster events and going forward for any future disaster events.

What is the definition of a primary producer for the Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants?

spends the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise; and derives the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or in the opinion of QRIDA, based on the demonstrated production potential of the primary production enterprise, will, within a reasonable time, derive the majority of their incomes from the primary production enterprise in relation to a partnership, company or trust that carries on a primary production enterprise for which the partners, shareholders or beneficiaries – spend the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise; and derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or in the opinion of QRIDA, based on the demonstrated production potential of the primary production enterprise, will, within a reasonable time, derive the majority of their incomes from the primary production enterprise.

This definition is specific to the Scheme Guidelines and is not influenced by external definitions of a primary producer, such as that used by the Australian Taxation Office. During the course of assessment, QRIDA may contact an applicant for further information to establish eligibility under the Scheme definition of a primary producer.

For more information on how QRIDA determines the primary production potential under this scheme, please view QRIDA's In Potential Applicants fact sheet. Why do I need to provide evidence that I’m insured? The certificate of insurance and details of your claim are required to apply for this grant.

The grant cannot cover repairs that will be covered by insurance. However, items that are not covered, and your excess may be eligible. Can I apply for the grant before I know the outcome of my insurance claim?

Yes, we welcome you to apply before you know the outcome. QRIDA will work with you to determine what damage may be covered by your insurance policy. Please note that assessing applications before finalising insurance claims may take longer than if you were to apply after the insurance outcome is known.

What is the difference between direct and indirect damage? Direct damage is physical damage that occurred as a result of the event. For example, immediate damage caused by flood water flowing through your property, or damage to a fence because of a bush fire on your property.

Indirect damage is the losses sustained as a consequence of the disaster. For example, downturn in customer foot traffic from road closures, loss of income or spoilage due to power outages. For direct damage you may be eligible for an Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant and/or a Disaster Assistance Loan .

For indirect damage you may be eligible for an Essential Working Capital Disaster Assistance Loan. Can I use the assistance to claim the wages or labour costs of the immediate clean-up and reinstatement phase? Normal staffing costs are ineligible unless they can demonstrate additional costs are incurred for clean-up and reinstatement purposes.

Permanent employees (including permanent full-time and permanent part-time) – only the costs of additional hours worked (e.g. overtime or extra hours / days) to assist with the clean-up and reinstatement of the enterprise Contractors, casuals or temporary staff - who are engaged specifically for clean-up and reinstatement of the enterprise.

If contractors, casuals or temporary staff are already employed, however, the day to day labour requirement which they were originally contracted to do has decreased or ceased altogether due to the eligible disaster, and they are assisting with clean up, these costs for clean-up and reinstatement purposes only may be eligible.

Evidence required could include payroll summary verifying staff and wage costs incurred for clean-up and reinstatement purposes only and signed by the applicant. Can I apply more than once if I have multiple enterprises?

Applicants who operate more than one primary production enterprise, for example under a single ABN at separate locations, may apply for assistance for each eligible separate business up to the maximum amount of assistance available for the relevant defined disaster area and determined by the establishment notice.

When determining an eligible separate business , QRIDA may consider (but is not limited to): the staffing arrangements of the separate property whether the property has its own plant equipment or stock the accounting arrangements of the separate property whether the separate property operates under its own trading name the commercial scale, viability and autonomy of each property.

QRIDA will consider each application on a case by case basis taking into account the particular circumstances. What documents do I need to provide with my Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant application? If you have already applied for assistance from QRIDA please provide your QRIDA Client ID Number on your application form, as well as the documents outlined below.

Please remember not to mail original documents as QRIDA is unable to return them. Financial statements and tax returns Financial statements including Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet The latest available Income Tax Return/s will be satisfactory, this is downloadable from your ATO portal.

Rates Notice / Lease Agreement To show that your enterprise is located within a defined disaster area, please provide: If you own the property - a copy of your most recent Local Government rates notice for the property impacted by the disaster event. If you lease the property - a copy of your current lease agreement (lease agreement must confirm that you are responsible for meeting the costs being claimed).

5 - 10 photographs evidencing direct damage caused by the disaster event.

For grant applications up to $10,000 (i.e. for immediate resumption of business directly following the disaster event): Copies of tax invoices, quotes,or estimates For grant applications over $10,000 or subsequent applications up to $65,000: Copies of tax invoices AND evidence that these invoices have been paid (e.g. bank statements, electronic bank transfer confirmations or official supplier receipts).

If insured, you will need to provide full details and a copy of your insurance policy and/or claim. If you are eligible to claim under your insurance policy, you must do so, and have that claim finalised before lodging an application for grant assistance.

Please be aware QRIDA is unable to finalise your Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant application until the outcome of your insurance claim is determined and formal advice of the claim outcome is provided. Why do I need to provide evidence that I’m insured or wait for my insurance claim to be processed?

A certificate of insurance and details of the claim are required to apply for this grant given the grant cannot cover repairs that will be covered by insurance. However, insurance excesses and items that are not covered by insurance may be eligible. I was affected in more than one disaster.

Can I apply for both Disaster grants? You may be eligible to apply for more than one grant if you were directly affected by both events. Please contact QRIDA 1800 623 946 or email contact_us@qrida.

qld. gov.au I have a small primary production business which is currently not my main source of income and has suffered damage as a result of the disaster event. Am I eligible for assistance?

The primary production business must generate the majority of your income, unless you can demonstrate the production potential of the business to eventually derive the majority of your income. An example of the production potential of the business - you have planted a commercial size fruit orchard that is still maturing which will eventually provide the majority of your income. A relative has their own contracting business.

Can I use them to repair our damage? You are able to use relatives to repair your damage as long as transactions are retained at arm’s length and conducted in the same way as with any other contractor. Any contractors used must have an ABN and provide a tax invoice and official receipt for work completed.

QRIDA may request additional information in these circumstances to confirm the validity of the claim. I'm a fisher based in a defined disaster area. Can I apply for the assistance?

Fishers who have sustained direct damage to fishing equipment and vessels as a result of the disaster may be eligible for assistance. Assistance is not however available to compensate for loss of income due to inability to fish because of the event.

If your business has not experienced direct damage, but has suffered a significant loss of income or other impacts as a result of the disaster event, you may be eligible to apply for a Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan. Am I eligible for assistance if I’ve used my own plant and machinery to repair damage?

Yes, you are able to claim assistance for the actual costs of any additional labour or fuel and oil incurred in the use of this plant and machinery for clean-up and reinstatement activities for the disaster event. Can I request a review of the decision made on my application? Yes, you are entitled to a decision review.

See reviewing a decision for more information. What is the QRIDA decision-making process? QRIDA is committed to ensuring due administrative processes are undertaken with the decisioning of applications for Government assistance.

When making decisions on applications, as well as the internal review of a decision, QRIDA follows the QRIDA Decision-Making Policy and Procedure. You can view this Policy and Procedure on the Reviewing a decision page . Is replanting eligible for reimbursement under Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants for disaster events post 29 January 2025?

Yes, replacing lost or damaged crops, and costs associated with the essential replacement of lost or damaged crops, may be eligible for reimbursement for disaster assistance recovery grants activated from 29 January 2025, including: North and Far North Tropical Low, 29 January - 28 February 2025 Tropical Cyclone Alfred and Severe Weather, 1 - 16 March 2025 Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, commencing 21 March - 19 May 2025 Costs such as those for the plant, seed or seedling, crop establishment (i.e. chemicals for weed and or pest control), nutrition (i.e. establishment fertiliser) will be considered.

Please note, however, that pasture crops grown for livestock consumption, and ratoon cane where pasture/crop was planted more than 12 months ago and preceding the relevant disaster are excluded from the eligibility. Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, 21 March - 19 May 2025 Have a question, need some help or would like more information?

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