Currently there is Category A assistance for several areas which includes:
The Whitsunday region and the Mackay region have Category B assistance which includes:
Category C assistance is available to several areas which includes:
For further details on what services are available in your area, use the postcode search on the home page.
Industry organisations and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) are collecting data for primary producers. This data will be collated and reported through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
Assistance is managed by Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and QRAA:
For details on Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and QRAA officers in your area, use the postcode search on the home page.
If a primary producer is not in an area where Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) assistance is available but has suffered significant damage from a natural disaster, they can apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration. Freight subsidies can be applied for under an IDSP declaration.
To obtain an IDSP declaration, contact Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) – 13 25 23.
Category A – Standard assistance measures:
Category B – Standard assistance measures:
Category C – Standard assistance measures:
Category D – Standard assistance measures:
Both Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and QRAA will receive a large amount of applications throughout this process so extra staff has been called upon to assist. DAF and QRAA aim to process applications as quickly as possible and it’s suggested you call DAF or QRAA to check on the status of your application.
Getting off the farm is the first step for many. Community Recovery Hubs have been opened throughout Queensland to help people find the assistance they need to cope with the effects of TC Debbie:
There are several phone support services as well that urge people to use these as they recovery from the disaster.
Following a disaster many employers may be concerned about the availability of work for casual and permanent staff members. As an employer, you have an obligation to ensure your current employees are kept as informed as possible of the status of their positions with your business during this uncertain time. Employees need to be aware that it may be a possibility that the loss of production may result in the loss of their jobs.
If it is not viable to keep your employees employed, and you have exhausted all other options to try and keep your employees on, redundancy will be your final option. Both permanent and casual employees are entitled to final pays, including redundancy payouts. There are several terms and conditions around these circumstances which employers need to be aware of.
To find out more:
Queensland farmers are encouraged to prepare their properties and infrastructure to mitigate any potential impacts of a severe weather event, after the Bureau of Meteorology declared that La Niña has developed in the Pacific Ocean.
This follows central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures exceeding La Niña thresholds and atmospheric indicators, including the Southern Oscillation Index, trade winds and cloud also at La Niña levels.
These recent changes in ocean temperatures and weather patterns over the Pacific are now likely to remain until at least the end of the year.
La Niña is typically associated with above-average spring rainfall for Australia, particularly across eastern, central and northern regions.
It can also mean cooler days, more tropical cyclones, and an earlier onset of the first rains of the wet season across the north.
Current climate outlooks indicate the remainder of 2020 will be wetter than average across the eastern two thirds of Australia.
The last La Niña event occurred from 2010-2012 and resulted in one of Australia’s wettest two-year periods on record. Widespread flooding occurred in many parts of Australia associated with the record rainfalls.
It is likely this year will not see the same intensity as this La Niña event, but is still likely to be of moderate strength.
Preparing for a severe weather event as a result of La Niña now will ensure the state’s farmers can get back to doing what they do best sooner – producing world class food, fibre and foliage.