CATEGORY D NEEDED FOR FLOOD RECOVERY

THE economic recovery from floods in some of Queensland’s key agricultural regions will be slowed and impeded due to an ad hoc and uneven approach to disaster assistance from the Federal Government, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation said today.

QFF CEO Dan Galligan said the local economy in places like Theodore, Chinchilla, the Lockyer Valley and Bundaberg had taken a heavy hit from floods this summer and that farm businesses and communities would take years to get back on track.

“The Federal Government has worked with the State Government to recognise the extent of the disaster from Cyclone Yasi in Far North Queensland,” Mr Galligan said.

“But these other communities have not been afforded the same attention. People in these regions were first affected months ago and can feel justifiably forgotten. Given the extent of the flood disaster, this needs to change.

“Many farmers have suffered losses in excess of $1 million in critical farm infrastructure along with their crop and income losses.

“These farmers are working with local government and community groups to conduct clean-up activities as best they can. But they have every right to be angry and frustrated that coordinated progress is slow as a result of the convoluted assistance measures agreed to between the State and Commonwealth.

“QFF recognises the role of the broader state wide reconstruction effort, but these regions need urgent assistance now to get income back into businesses and reduce overheads. Category D assistance is about economic recovery from exceptional disaster – and everyone in the country knows how bad these floods were.

“On February 8, the Prime Minister presented a flood-soaked flag to the Parliament and was understandably in tears. Clearly, the government is well aware just how bad this disaster was.

“But farmers, community groups and local government are screaming out for action and at the moment the scale and extent of the task appears to have polarised our government Departments to a state of bureaucratic inaction and confusion.

“We are in the recovery phase. Bureaucrats and politicians have to help with appropriate tools. For flood recovery in the worst areas, the Category D package is critical now.”