2021 Eastern Australia Storms and Floods – updates from the Australian Government

Key dates

The National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 5 December 2019 to lead a national response to the drought affecting large parts of the country and to continue supporting North Queensland communities affected by wide-spread flooding in early 2019.

The Agency is led by the Hon Shane L Stone AC QC, Coordinator-General and Chairman of the Advisory Board. It was previously known as the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency (NQLIRA).

On 24 March 2021, Mr Stone was asked to support the ongoing recovery and resilience of communities affected by the flood emergencies across Eastern Australia.

Below is a list of key dates highlighting the work of the Agency and significant events.

 

Key Dates

03 April 2021
Flood

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud and Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan announce assistance for the Southern Queensland Local Government Areas of Balonne, Barcoo, Moreton Bay and Paroo following recent storms and flash flooding.  They also announce low-interest loans and freight subsidies for primary producers in the Goondiwindi Shire.  All assistance will be provided under the joint Australian and Queensland Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
02 April 2021
Flood

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud and NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announce that grants of up to $75,000 are now available for eligible primary producers recovering from flood and storm damage under the Special Disaster Grants program. Made available under the joint Australian and NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the one-off grant is for farmers and primary producers in disaster-declared Local Government Areas to help them rebuild their livelihood.
30 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert announced a further extension of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) to support people in the New South Wales Local Government Areas of Gilgandra, Lachlan, Lithgow and Queanbeyan-Palerang, who have been impacted by storms and flooding. 
27 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert announced the extension of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) to support people in the New South Wales Local Government Areas who have been affected by storms and flooding.  Eligible people in the Ballina, Bathurst, Bega Valley, Brewarrina, Byron, Cabonne, Cobar, Eurobodalla, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Kyogle, Lismore, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Oberon, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Tweed, Walcha, Walgett and Wingecarribee local government areas can now access this support.
27 March 2021
Flood

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud announced the extension of the SME Recovery Loan Scheme to provide further support to storm and flood affected businesses in NSW and southern Queensland.
27 March 2021
Flood

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud announced further assistance to help NSW communities impacted by the storm and flood event to rebuild and recover.  The Australian and NSW Governments have also agreed to provide recovery grants (up to $50,000 for small businesses and up to $75,000 for primary producers) where direct damage has occurred.
26 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott Disaster announced the extension of disaster assistance to include the Local Government Areas of Ballina, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Cobar, Gilgandra, Gunnedah, Lachlan, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Narrabri, Oberon, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Walcha and Walgett.  This support is in response to the significant damage caused by recent storms and flooding.
25 March 2021
Flood

​Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Queensland Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan announced the extension of disaster assistance to include the Local Government Areas of Goondiwindi, Lockyer Valley, Quilpie and Southern Downs following the heavy rainfall and flash flooding that drenched Southern Queensland.
24 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Acting Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne announced ​​​the establishment of Operation NSW FLOOD ASSIST 21-1. The Australian Defence Force is supporting the NSW Government-led efforts with aerial search and rescue support, civilian evacuation operations, and preparing forces to assist in recovery operations.
24 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott announced disaster recovery assistance has been extended to a further 13 local government areas following the severe storms and floods in NSW through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
24 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud ​ announced disaster recovery assistance would be extended to parts of Southern Queensland impacted by widespread rainfall and flash-flooding occurring across Eastern Australia.
24 March 2021
Flood

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud announced that the National Drought and Flood Agency, led by Coordinator-General Shane Stone, would lead the Australian Government’s support for the ongoing recovery and resilience of communities affected by the current flood emergencies across Eastern Australia.