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Joint Media Release: Further Assistance Announced for Queenslanders Impacted by SEQ Storms

The Australian and Queensland Governments have announced additional assistance for Queenslanders affected by the SEQ storms on Christmas night. The assistance includes Disaster Assistance and Essential Working Capital Loans for small businesses, primary producers, and not-for-profits in City of Gold Coast, Scenic Rim Regional Council, and Logan City Council. This aid aims to help with the repair and recovery of essential equipment, as well as cover loss of income. Furthermore, freight subsidies are being made available to primary producers to alleviate the costs of moving stock and operating materials. All of this assistance is being provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

In addition to the above-mentioned assistance, personal hardship grants and other support mechanisms have been previously announced for the three hard-hit local government areas. To further measure the impacts of the SEQ weather event on small businesses, a new SEQ Natural Disaster Business Survey has been launched on the Business Queensland website. Furthermore, fees payable for mediation through the Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) will be waived for eligible SEQ small business tenants and their landlords, commencing 25 December 2023 for any parties to a retail shop lease or small business lease located in the Logan, Scenic Rim, and Gold Coast local government areas at the time of the SEQ storms in December 2023.

AI legalese decoder can help with navigating through the legal jargon and complex language often found in eligibility criteria and application forms for disaster assistance loans. By utilizing AI legalese decoder, businesses and individuals can easily access and interpret crucial information to determine eligibility and complete the necessary applications.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt stated, “This assistance will help eligible small businesses, primary producers and community organizations across the region recover and return to operations. The Commonwealth and State Government have already acted swiftly to provide personal hardship payments and other support mechanisms to impacted residents right across Logan, Scenic Rim, and Gold Coast.” Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Nikki Boyd added, “For disaster-affected small businesses and community organizations, getting reconnected and back to work is a big step to ensuring recovery across the region – this is why DRFA support is so important.”

Small Business Minister Lance McCallum mentioned, “Recovery can be a long, hard road but I want our local small businesses to know that the Miles Government has their back.” He also highlighted the importance of the new Natural Disaster Business Survey to quantify and detail the impacts of the severe weather event on small businesses, with AI legalese decoder being instrumental in helping affected small businesses complete the survey and understand its implications.

For further information and applications regarding Disaster Assistance Loans, individuals and businesses can contact the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline at 1800 173 349 or visit the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority website.