CYCLONE Niran affected farmers getting back on their feet in north Queensland, can now apply for recovery assistance grants of up to $25,000.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
To be eligible, farmers must have employed contractors, casuals or temporary staff, who are engaged specifically for clean-up and reinstatement of the enterprise.
Emergency management minister David Littleproud said the DRFA Category C assistance would provide financial support to primary producers affected.
RELATED READING
"Helping our farmers get back on their feet so they can continue to generate economic opportunities for rural and regional communities is a focus for all governments in Australia," Mr Littleproud said.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged impacted primary producers to contact the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority for more information on how to access the $25,000 grants.
"While banana growers have been the most heavily impacted, impact assessments have identified significant damage to sugar cane, passionfruit, avocados, production nurseries and other perennial tree crops," Ms Palaszczuk said.
Grants fall short of industry expectations
AUSTRALIAN Banana Growers' Council chairman Stephen Lowe said while all forms of government assistance are welcomed, the disaster recovery grant approval fell short of industry expectations.
"Impacted growers are looking for wage assistance to help retain staff, which was the case following Cyclone Yasi," Mr Lowe said.
Related: Innisfail banana growers hope for specific recovery measures
"The recent storm damage has been a devastating blow for growers who were already battling ongoing low prices and worker shortages, and now face months without an income stream.
"ABGC hosted another meeting this week for severely affected growers and they were keen for assistance that would go some way towards their long-term recovery."
The ABGC has asked both the Queensland and Australian governments to consider wage subsidy assistance.
Federal member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, also fired a shot at both levels of government abelling the Category C $25,000 grants as "virtually useless".
"There were many reports made to us that $75,000 grants were being made available," he said.
"We want to know why North Queensland, once again gets $25,000 while New South Wales and Victoria got $75,000 for the bushfires?
"I am rather curious to know why there is such a discrimination against North Queensland? Whether you call it a cyclone or a tropical low or an extreme weather event, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the damage that has been done to the farmers.
"I implore the Minister to answer that question because really you might as well take that $25,000 and stick it up your jumper."
Sign up here to Good Fruit and Vegetables weekly newsletter for all the latest horticulture news each Thursday...