$130M Paid to Queenslanders Hit by Cyclone Alfred
The Australian Government has provided more than $130 million in financial assistance to people impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Services Australia has already processed more than 200,000 Queenslanders’ claims for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA), paying out more than $130 million.
In New South Wales, Services Australia has processed more than 30,000 claims and paid out more than $21 million. Total payments in both states total more than $150 million.
Services Australia also continues to assist people on the ground, with 170 staff in Queensland and Northern New South Wales embedded in 32 recovery centres across both states.
In Hervey Bay, Mobile Service Centre Desert Rose has been stationed outside an inundated service centre to ensure residents continue to receive face-to-face support.
In addition to AGDRP and DRA payments, the Australian, Queensland and New South Wales Governments have activated supports under jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), which fund recovery grants and targeted hardship assistance. For more information, visit the Queensland Government or New South Wales Government websites.
The quickest way to claim AGDRP and DRA payments is online through myGov, or via the myGov app. If people need help to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
To change or pause Centrelink debt repayments, affected people can do so online or in the mobile app (through the Money you owe service), or they can call 1800 076 072.
“We know that the timely payment of government financial support is crucial to assisting Australians in affected regions to recover from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
“The government has already delivered more than $150 million in disaster payments to individuals in Queensland and NSW.
“Importantly, most AGDRP claims are processed within a couple of days, which has ensured that money gets into people’s accounts quickly and helps them to clean up and rebuild without delay. DRA is a more complex payment, and Services Australia aims to process these claims in about a week.
“Financial support remains available, so if you’re in an affected area and haven’t already, please check the Services Australia website to see if you’re eligible for payments.”
“The Albanese Government was there to prepare and respond to the ex-Tropical Cyclone and now we are there for the recovery.
“We will stand by and support the affected communities in Northern NSW and SE Queensland.
“We know that recovery will take time and we are there for the long haul.”
The AGDRP is a lump sum payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child if:
The DRA is a fortnightly payment of up to 13 weeks if:
For more information, visit Services Australia
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https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/JennyMcAllister/Pages/130-million–paid-out-to-queenslanders-affected-by-cyclone-alfred.aspx