Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants for Tropical Cyclone Jasper

 Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding, 13 – 28 December 2023 

1. About the program

The objective of this assistance measure, provided under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, is to support communities to recover after an eligible disaster. The Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Grants Scheme (Scheme) provides an exceptional circumstances grant to primary producers to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of primary production enterprises that have suffered direct damage as a result of an eligible disaster.

2. Available funding

2.1 The maximum exceptional circumstances grant amount is $75,000.

a) An initial amount of up to $10,000 is available (an initial claim). To support an initial claim evidence of the direct damage such as photographs, quotations, tax invoices and official receipts is required.

b) A subsequent amount of up to $65,000 is available (a subsequent claim). To support subsequent claims full evidence of payment is required. (This evidence must also cover any amounts claimed under the initial claim if not already provided).

Note: prior to the Closing Day, multiple applications can be made up to the maximum amount available under the grant.

3. How funding may be used

3.1 Grants are provided to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of the primary production enterprise. This includes:

a) engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises or equipment;

b) hiring or leasing equipment or materials to clean a property, premises or equipment;

c) purchasing equipment or materials to clean a property, premises or equipment if QRIDA is satisfied:
i. the equipment or materials are not ordinarily available for hire or lease (Examples -cleaning chemicals, gloves, masks, brooms, mops, shovels or buckets); or
ii. the equipment is or the materials are reasonably necessary for cleaning the property, premises or equipment and are not readily available for hire or lease. (In this instance assistance towards purchase is available to the assessed hire or lease cost of the item being purchased).

d) employing a person to clean a property, premises or equipment if –
i. the cost would not ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the eligible disaster; or
ii. the cost exceeds the cost of employing a person to clean the property, premises or equipment that would ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the eligible disaster;

e) removing and disposing of debris or damaged goods and material;

f) repairing a building or repairing or replacing fittings in a building, if the repair or replacement is essential for resuming operation of the primary production enterprise. (Funding is not available for repairs to a building that is used as a dwelling, unless it is used for carrying on the primary production enterprise, for example staff accommodation);

g) purchasing, hiring or leasing equipment or materials that are essential for immediately resuming operation of the primary production enterprise; and

h) any of the following –
i. repairing or reconditioning essential plant or equipment;
ii. repairing or replacing fencing on a property, other than to the extent, the cost may be recovered under other assistance* from the Commonwealth or State;
iii. purchasing fodder, other than to the extent, the cost may be recovered under other assistance* from the Commonwealth or State;
iv. maintaining the health of livestock;
v. replacing the dead livestock;
vi. repairing or restoring fields;
vii. salvaging crops, grain or feed;
viii. replacing lost or damaged plants if the replacement is essential for immediately resuming operation of the primary production enterprise;
ix. replacing essential water that has been used for firefighting; and
x. carting water.

* Examples of other assistance
• Under the Disaster Recovery funding Arrangements:
– a freight subsidy for transporting fencing materials; or
– a fodder subsidy for carting emergency fodder; or
– a concessional loan under the Disaster Assistance (Primary Producers) Loans Scheme for paying for fodder or repair or replacement of fencing.

3.2 An applicant is not eligible for assistance under the scheme:

a) for loss of income as a result of the eligible disaster;

b) if the primary producer is entitled to receive an amount under a policy of insurance for the relevant costs claimed.

4. Eligibility criteria

4.1 To be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant, the applicant must:

a) be a primary producer;

b) hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster;

c) 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;

d) have been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster;

e) be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application;

f) for costs relating to 3.1 h) (v), (vi) and (vii) provide satisfactory evidence of the loss of damage; and

g) intend to re-establish the primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster.

4.2 An applicant may also be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant if both of the following apply:

a) The applicant’s primary production enterprise is located outside the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster but is carried on at least sometime on a regular basis in the area.

b) Plant or equipment of the primary production enterprise situated in the defined disaster area has been damaged as a result of the eligible disaster.

5. Eligible separate businesses

5.1 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.

5.2 When determining an application on this basis QRIDA may consider (but is not limited to):

a) the staffing arrangements of the separate business;

b) whether the business has its own plant equipment or stock;

c) the accounting arrangements of the separate business;

d) whether the separate business operates under its own trading name;

e) the commercial viability and autonomy of each business.

6. How to apply

6.1 To be considered for an Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Grant please submit a completed application form, accompanied by all of the documentation stated on the application form before the application closing day. This includes a rates notice/lease agreement, 5-10 photographs of the damage, evidence of payment (or quotes when applying for the initial grant amount), and details of any insurance held. The same application form may be used when submitting both an initial claim and a subsequent claim.

6.2 Application forms and related information can be accessed at www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

6.3 Complete applications are assessed in order of receipt and QRIDA may request further information to help assess an application.

7. Terms and conditions

7.1 Where a disaster assistance scheme has been activated for more than one of the following categories, applicants may only apply for assistance under the scheme in only one of the following capacities:

a) Primary producer; or

b) Small business owner; or

c) Non-profit organisation.

7.2 Applicants must retain all tax invoices, official receipts, bank statements, quotations or other similar records for assistance received under the scheme until one year after the closing day for applications for the eligible disaster.

7.3 Applicants must consent to QRIDA conducting an audit of quotations, tax invoices, official receipts, bank statements or other similar records to verify the amounts given under the scheme have been used in accordance with the claim. Penalties may apply for false or misleading information.

7.4 Applicants must provide authorisation for QRIDA to contact their insurance company to confirm or verify entitlements, or the outcome of any claims made in relation to the eligible disaster.

8. Conflicts of interest

8.1 A conflict of interest may arise due to a business dealing with QRIDA, if the applicant’s private interests’ conflict with their obligations under the agreement. Conflicts of interest could affect the awarding or performance of the applicant’s agreement. A conflict of interest can be:

a) real (or actual);

b) apparent (or perceived); or

c) potential.

8.2 QRIDA will ask the applicant to declare, as part of the application, any business dealings that may be considered an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest or that, to the best of the applicant’s knowledge, there is no conflict of interest. If the applicant later identifies that there is an actual, apparent or potential conflict of interest or that one might arise in relation to the agreement, the applicant must inform QRIDA in writing immediately.

9. Fraud

9.1 QRIDA takes fraud and corruption seriously. Suspected fraud will be referred to Queensland Police Service (QPS) and/or the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).

9.2 Fraud and corruption is a criminal offence under Sections 408C, 408D and 87 of the Criminal Code 1899 (Qld). For corporations, directors and company officials, Sections 596 and 184 of the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Clth) will also apply.

9.3 Providing false and misleading information or documents in the QRIDA application process is an offence. Penalties may apply under Sections 41 and 42 of the Rural and Regional Adjustment Act 1994.

9.4 By signing the application form, you acknowledge that the information you provide is true and accurate, and agree to be bound by the scheme’s guidelines and provisions.

9.5 QRIDA reserves the right to pursue and recover funding provided under fraudulent and dishonest circumstance.

10. Privacy

10.1 QRIDA’s Privacy Policy, available at: www.qrida.qld.gov.au/privacy, sets out general information on how QRIDA collects, uses, and discloses individuals’ personal information.

10.2 The application form for this Scheme contains specific information on how personal information will be collected, used and disclosed.

12. More information 
For more information on the Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Grants Scheme contact QRIDA on Freecall 1800 623 946 or email contact_us@qrida.qld.gov.au.

13. Definitions 

Closing day is the day defined in section 11 by which applications must be received by QRIDA.

Defined disaster area for an eligible disaster means the area that the appropriate Minister has defined for the purpose of activating the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. These are published on QRIDA’s website (also see section 11 above).

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements means the funding arrangements as agreed between the Commonwealth and the State for providing financial assistance to communities affected by an eligible disaster (available on the Australian Government Disaster Assist website).

Eligible disaster means a bushfire, cyclone, flood, earthquake, storm surge, landslide, meteorite strike, tornado, tsunami, storm – including hail, rain and/or wind event or terrorist act.

Eligible separate business means a primary production enterprise that would be a commercially viable and autonomous business if the other separate businesses carried on by the eligible entity ceased to operate.

Evidence of payment means:

a) tax invoice(s) showing full details of the goods or services provided. The goods and services described on each invoice must be clearly identifiable having been paid by the applicant and being related to damage from the eligible disaster; and

b) evidence of payment for these tax invoices. A copy must be provided of an applicant’s bank transfer(s) and/or bank statement(s) with any relevant official receipt(s) from suppliers or contractors.

Official receipt means a receipt including the name and address and ABN (if applicable) of the entity that issued the receipt and a description of each item to which the receipt relates.

Primary producer means:

• – a sole trader who – spends the majority of their labour on the primary production enterprise; and
• either –
  i. derives the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or
  ii. in the opinion of QRIDA, based on the demonstrated production potential of the primary production enterprise, will, within a reasonable period of time, derive the majority of their incomes from the primary production enterprise

b) 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 the primary production enterprise; and
• either –

i. derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or

ii. in the opinion of QRIDA, based on the demonstrated production potential of the primary production enterprise, will, within a reasonable period of time, derive the majority of their incomes from the primary production enterprise.

Primary production enterprise means

a) a business that is carried on by a primary producer and involves primary production, including the agricultural, apicultural, aqua-cultural, commercial wild-catch fishing, forestry, grazing and horticultural industries; and

b) for which an entity holds an Australian Business Number (ABN)

Reinstatement means carrying out activities that are necessary to help the enterprise continue or resume production at a similar level as before the eligible disaster.