Disaster assistance grants available for flooded North Queensland primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits

13 February 2025

More support is being provided to North Queensland, with over $100 million in extraordinary grants now available for flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit agencies across flood-affected areas. 

The grants are the next round of disaster assistance activated by the Australian and Queensland Governments to support recovery and resilience for North Queensland communities impacted by recent flooding. 

The package activated today includes: 

• $72.7 million grants package for flood-affected primary producers in North Queensland.

• $25 million grants package for small businesses and not-for-profit agencies impacted by the North Queensland floods.

• $2.4 million Rural Landholder Grants for owners or lessees of at least 10 hectares of flood affected land.

• $1 million Emergency Fodder Support for eligible primary producers. 

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit agencies impacted by the North Queensland floods. 

Primary producers will have access to an Emergency Fodder Support Package with up to $1 million available for the purchase and transportation of fodder to sustain livestock and mitigate the impacts of flooding. 

In addition, grants of up to $10,000 are available to rural landholders or lessees of at least 10 hectares who sustained direct damage but are not eligible for other DRFA primary producer assistance. 

This assistance is available to eligible applicants for the local government areas of Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville and Yarrabah.

Queensland Minister for Rural and Regional Development Dale Last said QRIDA is well prepared, with staff on the ground ready to assist.

“These grants are being administered by QRIDA who have dedicated people ready to speak to primary producers, small businesses, not-for-profits and rural landholders about their applications and provide help where needed," Minister Last said.

For more information about the grants, contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946 or visit QRIDA's disaster web page.

Primary producers wishing to access the Emergency Fodder Support Package should contact the Department of Primary industries on 13 25 23. 

More on DRFA assistance is available at the Commonwealth Government's Disaster Assist website or at Queensland Reconstruction Authority's website.

These extraordinary assistance grants are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under Category C and D of the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).