As North West Queensland enters a second week of devastating flooding, regional leaders are calling on the Australian and Queensland governments to urgently cut disaster recovery red tape and improve access to funding for primary producers and local businesses.
With more rain forecast and the potential for a cyclone, councils, communities, businesses and producers remain focused on response and early recovery, while expressing growing concern about the complexity and delays involved in accessing disaster assistance. Local leaders say administrative barriers are compounding pressures at a time when capacity and resources are already stretched.
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) has acknowledged the significant efforts of councils, emergency services, community members and volunteers across the region, who continue to rescue people and livestock, restore supply chains, repair damage, dispose of waste, and support one another during the prolonged disaster.
NWQROC Chair, Etheridge Shire Mayor Barry Hughes, acknowledged the funding already committed through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
“We also thank both levels of government for the significant investment made through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements,” he said. “The $38 million committed so far is a critical start to helping our communities get back on their feet on what we know can be a long and challenging road to recovery.”
However, concerns remain that existing recovery grant processes are overly complex, duplicative and impose additional administrative burdens on primary producers at a time when on-ground recovery efforts must be prioritised. NWQROC is urging governments to work closely with councils and industry to streamline application and assessment processes, reduce unnecessary documentation and adopt a more risk-based, trust-centred approach suited to remote and disaster-prone regions.
“However, on the ground primary producers are telling us current recovery grant processes are complex, duplicates and adds another administrative burden at a time when energy and capacity are already stretched,” Hughes said,
NWQROC is also seeking targeted amendments to recovery funding arrangements, including upfront payment of the full $75,000 Exceptional Disaster Assistance for primary producers, and reinstatement of the $400,000 Restocking, Replanting and On Farm Infrastructure Grant previously available after the 2019 North West Queensland monsoon.
Stronger support is also being sought for local businesses, many of which continue to face financial pressure despite not being directly inundated by floodwaters. Ongoing isolation, disruption and fixed costs are affecting businesses that are essential to the social and economic fabric of the region.
NWQROC has written to the Queensland Premier outlining these concerns and has indicated its readiness to work in partnership with all levels of government to ensure recovery arrangements are practical, timely and effective. As the event continues, regional leaders are urging communities to look after one another and seek support when needed, noting the region’s history of resilience in the face of adversity.