Disaster relief payments of $1000 per adult and $800 per child have now been extended to people affected by bushfire in the Inverell local government area.
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Assistance is being provided through the Australia Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP).
Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said this extension includes wider eligibility criteria and an additional $400 for each child affected.
"With the new school year about to start, the doubling of this payment recognises that families will have extra expenses ahead of them," Mr Joyce said.
"We have also included the Inverell Shire in the payments scheme, alongside those areas in the New England already eligible including Armidale, Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield and Walcha.
"As well as damage to people's homes, eligibility now also includes damage to major assets such as buildings, vehicles, caravans, water tanks and large scale machinery with combined value of $20,000.
"This support package is on top of the assistance being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements."
Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the AGDRP would help to provide dignity for those who had suffered a catastrophic loss.
"It's going to take time for life to return to normal and we'll be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with these communities until they're back on their feet," Minister Littleproud said.
Claims will be open Wednesday, January 22 2020. For more information or to make a claim visit www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster or call 180 22 66. More information on Australian Government disaster assistance is available at www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au/.
Other assistance available includes:
- Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA): short term income support payment to assist individuals who can demonstrate their income has been affected as a direct result of the disaster. Available in Armidale, Glen Innes Severn, Inverell, Tenterfield, Uralla and Walcha. To enquire, call 180 2266.
- Natural Disaster Recovery Relief Grant: Payments up to $75,000 are now available to help eligible, bushfire affected primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations with clean-up and immediate restoration costs. Available in Armidale, Glen Innes Severn, Inverell, Tenterfield and Walcha. To enquire, call 1800 678 593.