Financial assistance is available for eligible flood-affected communities from both the Queensland and Australian Governments.

Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants of up to $75,000 are available to assist directly impacted businesses:

• Primary producers up to $75,0000
• Small businesses up to $50,000
• Non-profit organisations up to $50,000

Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans are available to assist primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations with essential working capital for expenses. 

Personal Hardship Financial Assistance is available and includes:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant for people directly impacted by a disaster who are unable to meet their immediate essential needs. Eligible applicants may receive $180 per person up to $900 for a family of five or more.  Contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
• Essential Household Contents Grant of up to $1765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families. These grants are for those who are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance.
• Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides a lump sum payment for eligible people adversely affected by the South East Queensland floods.
• Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment to help people who have lost income as a direct result of the floods in South East Queensland.
• Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program up to $5,000 is available for eligible sport and active recreation organisations located in areas declared under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Support from private business:

• Telstra’s Local Flood Grants– $10,000 of funds to allow for Smart Modems, 100GB data packs, free calls for pre-paid customers and free Telstra fixed lines to temporary addresses.
• Commbank’s Flood Relief Grants– up to $10,000 in recovery grants, businesses can apply to defer their loan repayments, refund merchant terminal fees for up to three months and get early access to term deposit accounts.
• ANZ’s Disaster Relief Package– short term payment relief on home loans, credit cards, personal loans and some business loans, and a fee waiver for restructuring business loans and accessing term deposits.

• Donate to flood-affected businesses and residents through GIVIT
• Sign up as a volunteer to help the Ipswich flood recovery efforts.

Small businesses that needed to lodge business activity statements of instalment notices with an original due date of February 28 or March 21, 2022, will now have until March 28, 2022. Business owners do not need to file a lodgement deferral request. 

Visit the Australian Taxation Office for more information.

The Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner is ready to help your small businesses with leasing disputes and other general enquiries, and can refer you to additional supports and services.

Call 1300 312 344 or visit us online

Australian banks are offering deferrals of business loan repayments for up to three months for customers affected by the flood disasters in Queensland.   

Visit the Australian Banking Association for more information.

Businesses can call the Legal Aid Natural Disaster Legal Helpline on 1300 527 700  or visit the website to access the resources.

There is a range of mental health and wellbeing resources including tips, advice and support that have been developed by the Queensland Governments to help small business owners.