ANTHONY ALBANESE MP
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA 

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES

SENATOR THE HON JENNY MCALLISTER
MINISTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 
MINISTER FOR CITIES
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

DISASTER RECOVERY ALLOWANCE ACTIVATED FOR FLOOD-IMPACTED WESTERN QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES

The Australian Government is activating further financial support for flood-impacted communities across western Queensland through the Disaster Recovery Allowance.

This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders depending on their personal circumstances who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.

It will be available in 15 LGAs of: Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Bulloo, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Flinders, Longreach, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Richmond and Winton.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance will be available to individuals who live or work in these declared areas and have lost some or all of their income due to the disaster.

To be eligible for the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a person’s income must have fallen below the average Australian weekly income as a result of the floods.

Applications will open at 2pm local time, Tuesday 8 April 2025.

Before they claim, people can check their eligibility on the Services Australia website at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support

The easiest way to claim is online through myGov.

If people need help to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

"At the worst of times we see the best of the Australian character.

“My Government has been working with the Queensland Government to activate assistance and provide support.

"My message to Queenslanders in this difficult time is we’ve got your back and will support you through the recovery."
 
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Government Services Katy Gallagher:

"The Government is focused on helping communities in western Queensland get back on their feet.

“The Allowance will provide up to 13 weeks of income support through the Disaster Recovery Allowance to people who have lost income as a result of flooding, such as workers who’ve had to evacuate.

“Services Australia staff are already working round the clock to support the community during these difficult times, processing claims as quickly as possible.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“It is a challenging time for western Queensland communities who have been impacted by rain, flooding, and evacuations.

“Many workers, such as farmhands and local retail workers, will have had their employment impacted by these floods. The Disaster Recovery Allowance will support eligible workers with up to 13 weeks of income support, while they move into recovery from this event.

“As we are receiving information about impacts, we are acting quickly to make financial assistance available for people and families who need it.

“This event is widespread, and its impacts will be too. We are here every step of the way with Queenslanders.”

More information:

This event has impacted people in different ways.

The Australian Government is working closely with the Queensland Government to ensure that supports are available in response to the different challenges that people have experienced.

Joint Commonwealth-State supports

• If a person in eligible LGAs lost essential services such as power, gas, water or sewerage for more than 5 days, they may be eligible for the Essential Services Hardship Assistance: a payment of between $150 - $750 depending on household size.
• If a person in eligible LGAs needs help to cover the costs of emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine, they may be eligible for the Emergency Hardship Assistance: a payment of between $180 - $900 depending on household size.
• If a person in eligible LGAs lost essential household contents like bed linen or white goods, they may be eligible for the Essential Household Contents Grant: a payment of between $1,765 - $5,300 depending on household size.
• If a person’s home has become structurally unsafe to live in, they may be eligible for the Structural Assistance Grant: uninsured, low income owner occupiers in eligible LGAs can receive up to $80,000 to help repair home to make it safe, secure and habitable.

These payments are administered by the Queensland Government and people can check their eligibility on the Queensland Government Website.

Commonwealth supports

• If a person has suffered a loss of income as a direct result of this event, they may be eligible for the Australian Government’s Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA), which offers up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders depending on their personal circumstances.
• If a person in eligible LGAs has suffered the most serious impacts including major damage to their home, serious injury, or loss of a loved one as a result of severe weather, they may be eligible for the AGDRP which offers residents $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child.