Battered by storms? Discover how affected residents can now unlock vital federal aid

The holiday season was far from festive for many Queenslanders, as severe storms wreaked havoc across the state, leaving thousands without power and hundreds of homes damaged.

Now, the federal government has stepped in, offering a lifeline to those affected by the extreme weather.


Between Christmas Day and the early days of 2024, the southeast of Queensland was battered by heavy storms, resulting in power outages for 6,000 homes and causing significant damage to hundreds more.

Premier Steven Miles confirmed that 152 homes in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim regions were ‘severely damaged’, with an additional 406 homes sustaining moderate damage.


Screenshot 2023-08-22 125310.png
Eligible residents in Queensland affected by the storms will receive financial assistance from the government. Source: Shutterstock


In response to this crisis, Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt announced two forms of additional government assistance, available from 2 p.m. Monday, January 8.

This aid is designed to help those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or serious injury from the storms.


The first form of assistance is the federal government's disaster recovery payment.

This one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or a serious injury due to the storms.

This aid is accessible to anyone who meets the requirements in 27 suburbs across the southeast, including areas within:

  • City of Gold Coast: Arundel, Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Coomera, Gaven, Guanaba, Helensvale, Hollywell, Labrador, Maudsland, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Tallai, Upper Coomera and Wongawallan.
  • City of Logan: Cedar Creek, Cedar Grove, Cedar Vale, Flagstone, Jimboomba, Mundoolun and Tamborine.
  • Scenic Rim Region: Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain.
The second form of assistance is the disaster recovery allowance, designed to support workers and sole traders who have difficulty getting to work or running their business due to the storms.

This allowance provides up to 13 weeks of income support at the Jobseeker level and is available to all who live or work in the three council regions, regardless of suburb.


Notably, equivalent financial assistance will also be made available to eligible New Zealanders residing in the area.

These new measures are in addition to the joint federal-state financial hardship assistance already available to southeast Queenslanders needing food, clothing, medicines or reconnecting utilities whose homes weren't majorly damaged.

Assistance is also available to small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.

Senator Watt assured those recovering from the storms that the government is committed to supporting them throughout the recovery process.

'We are working very closely, night and day, with the Miles government to make sure this recovery process is as best as it can possibly be. It won't be fixed overnight, but we are committed to the task,' he said.


Government Services Minister Bill Shorten urged those impacted by the recent events to check what help is available through the Services Australia website.

He also thanked the Services Australia staff for working tirelessly to support those affected by the storms and Cyclone Jasper.

‘Thank you also to those working around the clock supporting Aussies impacted since Cyclone Jasper, including the 1,000 Services Australia staff working the phones and 2,000 staff processing claims,’ he added.

The storms in the southeast came just as the state’s north clean-up began following Cyclone Jasper’s landfall around Christmas.

The State Emergency Services reported that of the 4,550 calls for assistance between the state’s two major events, only seven were outstanding.


Across the state, more than 61,000 damage assessments have been carried out on homes—39 of which had been destroyed, including 10 in the southeast.

As of Sunday morning, January 7, 99 per cent of Queenslanders who lost power during the weather events have been reconnected, with the final few set to be re-powered by Sunday afternoon.

To learn more about eligibility and financial aid, please visit the Queensland Government's website here.

A resident of Queensland shared his experience during the recent storms in the area:


Source: Facebook​


Key Takeaways
  • Queenslanders affected by severe storms over the holiday period will have access to federal financial assistance.
  • The assistance includes a disaster recovery payment for individuals and a disaster recovery allowance for workers and sole traders impacted by the storms.
  • The federal and state governments are working closely to support the recovery process, with various forms of aid available to different groups, including small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.
  • The weather events in Queensland's southeast followed severe conditions in the north around Christmas, and extensive damage assessments have been conducted across the state.

Have you or anyone you know been impacted by the recent storms in Queensland, members? Share your experiences in the comments below.
 
Sponsored
My heart goes out to all the people. I saw last night on the news about an elderly lady in Ballarat, VIC, who is living in a caravan due to floods 2 years ago, and her house is still not fixed. Then .... heavy floods in Ballarat again, and damages now to the caravan. I poured my eyes out.
 
The holiday season was far from festive for many Queenslanders, as severe storms wreaked havoc across the state, leaving thousands without power and hundreds of homes damaged.

Now, the federal government has stepped in, offering a lifeline to those affected by the extreme weather.


Between Christmas Day and the early days of 2024, the southeast of Queensland was battered by heavy storms, resulting in power outages for 6,000 homes and causing significant damage to hundreds more.

Premier Steven Miles confirmed that 152 homes in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim regions were ‘severely damaged’, with an additional 406 homes sustaining moderate damage.


View attachment 38813
Eligible residents in Queensland affected by the storms will receive financial assistance from the government. Source: Shutterstock


In response to this crisis, Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt announced two forms of additional government assistance, available from 2 p.m. Monday, January 8.

This aid is designed to help those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or serious injury from the storms.


The first form of assistance is the federal government's disaster recovery payment.

This one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or a serious injury due to the storms.

This aid is accessible to anyone who meets the requirements in 27 suburbs across the southeast, including areas within:

  • City of Gold Coast: Arundel, Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Coomera, Gaven, Guanaba, Helensvale, Hollywell, Labrador, Maudsland, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Tallai, Upper Coomera and Wongawallan.
  • City of Logan: Cedar Creek, Cedar Grove, Cedar Vale, Flagstone, Jimboomba, Mundoolun and Tamborine.
  • Scenic Rim Region: Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain.
The second form of assistance is the disaster recovery allowance, designed to support workers and sole traders who have difficulty getting to work or running their business due to the storms.

This allowance provides up to 13 weeks of income support at the Jobseeker level and is available to all who live or work in the three council regions, regardless of suburb.


Notably, equivalent financial assistance will also be made available to eligible New Zealanders residing in the area.

These new measures are in addition to the joint federal-state financial hardship assistance already available to southeast Queenslanders needing food, clothing, medicines or reconnecting utilities whose homes weren't majorly damaged.

Assistance is also available to small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.

Senator Watt assured those recovering from the storms that the government is committed to supporting them throughout the recovery process.

'We are working very closely, night and day, with the Miles government to make sure this recovery process is as best as it can possibly be. It won't be fixed overnight, but we are committed to the task,' he said.


Government Services Minister Bill Shorten urged those impacted by the recent events to check what help is available through the Services Australia website.

He also thanked the Services Australia staff for working tirelessly to support those affected by the storms and Cyclone Jasper.

‘Thank you also to those working around the clock supporting Aussies impacted since Cyclone Jasper, including the 1,000 Services Australia staff working the phones and 2,000 staff processing claims,’ he added.

The storms in the southeast came just as the state’s north clean-up began following Cyclone Jasper’s landfall around Christmas.

The State Emergency Services reported that of the 4,550 calls for assistance between the state’s two major events, only seven were outstanding.


Across the state, more than 61,000 damage assessments have been carried out on homes—39 of which had been destroyed, including 10 in the southeast.

As of Sunday morning, January 7, 99 per cent of Queenslanders who lost power during the weather events have been reconnected, with the final few set to be re-powered by Sunday afternoon.

To learn more about eligibility and financial aid, please visit the Queensland Government's website here.

A resident of Queensland shared his experience during the recent storms in the area:


Source: Facebook​


Key Takeaways

  • Queenslanders affected by severe storms over the holiday period will have access to federal financial assistance.
  • The assistance includes a disaster recovery payment for individuals and a disaster recovery allowance for workers and sole traders impacted by the storms.
  • The federal and state governments are working closely to support the recovery process, with various forms of aid available to different groups, including small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.
  • The weather events in Queensland's southeast followed severe conditions in the north around Christmas, and extensive damage assessments have been conducted across the state.

Have you or anyone you know been impacted by the recent storms in Queensland, members? Share your experiences in the comments below.
 
The holiday season was far from festive for many Queenslanders, as severe storms wreaked havoc across the state, leaving thousands without power and hundreds of homes damaged.

Now, the federal government has stepped in, offering a lifeline to those affected by the extreme weather.


Between Christmas Day and the early days of 2024, the southeast of Queensland was battered by heavy storms, resulting in power outages for 6,000 homes and causing significant damage to hundreds more.

Premier Steven Miles confirmed that 152 homes in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim regions were ‘severely damaged’, with an additional 406 homes sustaining moderate damage.


View attachment 38813
Eligible residents in Queensland affected by the storms will receive financial assistance from the government. Source: Shutterstock


In response to this crisis, Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt announced two forms of additional government assistance, available from 2 p.m. Monday, January 8.

This aid is designed to help those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or serious injury from the storms.


The first form of assistance is the federal government's disaster recovery payment.

This one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or a serious injury due to the storms.

This aid is accessible to anyone who meets the requirements in 27 suburbs across the southeast, including areas within:

  • City of Gold Coast: Arundel, Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Coomera, Gaven, Guanaba, Helensvale, Hollywell, Labrador, Maudsland, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Tallai, Upper Coomera and Wongawallan.
  • City of Logan: Cedar Creek, Cedar Grove, Cedar Vale, Flagstone, Jimboomba, Mundoolun and Tamborine.
  • Scenic Rim Region: Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain.
The second form of assistance is the disaster recovery allowance, designed to support workers and sole traders who have difficulty getting to work or running their business due to the storms.

This allowance provides up to 13 weeks of income support at the Jobseeker level and is available to all who live or work in the three council regions, regardless of suburb.


Notably, equivalent financial assistance will also be made available to eligible New Zealanders residing in the area.

These new measures are in addition to the joint federal-state financial hardship assistance already available to southeast Queenslanders needing food, clothing, medicines or reconnecting utilities whose homes weren't majorly damaged.

Assistance is also available to small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.

Senator Watt assured those recovering from the storms that the government is committed to supporting them throughout the recovery process.

'We are working very closely, night and day, with the Miles government to make sure this recovery process is as best as it can possibly be. It won't be fixed overnight, but we are committed to the task,' he said.


Government Services Minister Bill Shorten urged those impacted by the recent events to check what help is available through the Services Australia website.

He also thanked the Services Australia staff for working tirelessly to support those affected by the storms and Cyclone Jasper.

‘Thank you also to those working around the clock supporting Aussies impacted since Cyclone Jasper, including the 1,000 Services Australia staff working the phones and 2,000 staff processing claims,’ he added.

The storms in the southeast came just as the state’s north clean-up began following Cyclone Jasper’s landfall around Christmas.

The State Emergency Services reported that of the 4,550 calls for assistance between the state’s two major events, only seven were outstanding.


Across the state, more than 61,000 damage assessments have been carried out on homes—39 of which had been destroyed, including 10 in the southeast.

As of Sunday morning, January 7, 99 per cent of Queenslanders who lost power during the weather events have been reconnected, with the final few set to be re-powered by Sunday afternoon.

To learn more about eligibility and financial aid, please visit the Queensland Government's website here.

A resident of Queensland shared his experience during the recent storms in the area:


Source: Facebook​


Key Takeaways

  • Queenslanders affected by severe storms over the holiday period will have access to federal financial assistance.
  • The assistance includes a disaster recovery payment for individuals and a disaster recovery allowance for workers and sole traders impacted by the storms.
  • The federal and state governments are working closely to support the recovery process, with various forms of aid available to different groups, including small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.
  • The weather events in Queensland's southeast followed severe conditions in the north around Christmas, and extensive damage assessments have been conducted across the state.

Have you or anyone you know been impacted by the recent storms in Queensland, members? Share your experiences in the comments below.


The holiday season was far from festive for many Queenslanders, as severe storms wreaked havoc across the state, leaving thousands without power and hundreds of homes damaged.

Now, the federal government has stepped in, offering a lifeline to those affected by the extreme weather.


Between Christmas Day and the early days of 2024, the southeast of Queensland was battered by heavy storms, resulting in power outages for 6,000 homes and causing significant damage to hundreds more.

Premier Steven Miles confirmed that 152 homes in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim regions were ‘severely damaged’, with an additional 406 homes sustaining moderate damage.


View attachment 38813
Eligible residents in Queensland affected by the storms will receive financial assistance from the government. Source: Shutterstock


In response to this crisis, Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt announced two forms of additional government assistance, available from 2 p.m. Monday, January 8.

This aid is designed to help those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or serious injury from the storms.


The first form of assistance is the federal government's disaster recovery payment.

This one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to those who have suffered significant damage to their homes or a serious injury due to the storms.

This aid is accessible to anyone who meets the requirements in 27 suburbs across the southeast, including areas within:

  • City of Gold Coast: Arundel, Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Coomera, Gaven, Guanaba, Helensvale, Hollywell, Labrador, Maudsland, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Tallai, Upper Coomera and Wongawallan.
  • City of Logan: Cedar Creek, Cedar Grove, Cedar Vale, Flagstone, Jimboomba, Mundoolun and Tamborine.
  • Scenic Rim Region: Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain.
The second form of assistance is the disaster recovery allowance, designed to support workers and sole traders who have difficulty getting to work or running their business due to the storms.

This allowance provides up to 13 weeks of income support at the Jobseeker level and is available to all who live or work in the three council regions, regardless of suburb.


Notably, equivalent financial assistance will also be made available to eligible New Zealanders residing in the area.

These new measures are in addition to the joint federal-state financial hardship assistance already available to southeast Queenslanders needing food, clothing, medicines or reconnecting utilities whose homes weren't majorly damaged.

Assistance is also available to small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.

Senator Watt assured those recovering from the storms that the government is committed to supporting them throughout the recovery process.

'We are working very closely, night and day, with the Miles government to make sure this recovery process is as best as it can possibly be. It won't be fixed overnight, but we are committed to the task,' he said.


Government Services Minister Bill Shorten urged those impacted by the recent events to check what help is available through the Services Australia website.

He also thanked the Services Australia staff for working tirelessly to support those affected by the storms and Cyclone Jasper.

‘Thank you also to those working around the clock supporting Aussies impacted since Cyclone Jasper, including the 1,000 Services Australia staff working the phones and 2,000 staff processing claims,’ he added.

The storms in the southeast came just as the state’s north clean-up began following Cyclone Jasper’s landfall around Christmas.

The State Emergency Services reported that of the 4,550 calls for assistance between the state’s two major events, only seven were outstanding.


Across the state, more than 61,000 damage assessments have been carried out on homes—39 of which had been destroyed, including 10 in the southeast.

As of Sunday morning, January 7, 99 per cent of Queenslanders who lost power during the weather events have been reconnected, with the final few set to be re-powered by Sunday afternoon.

To learn more about eligibility and financial aid, please visit the Queensland Government's website here.

A resident of Queensland shared his experience during the recent storms in the area:


Source: Facebook​


Key Takeaways

  • Queenslanders affected by severe storms over the holiday period will have access to federal financial assistance.
  • The assistance includes a disaster recovery payment for individuals and a disaster recovery allowance for workers and sole traders impacted by the storms.
  • The federal and state governments are working closely to support the recovery process, with various forms of aid available to different groups, including small businesses, primary producers, and non-profits.
  • The weather events in Queensland's southeast followed severe conditions in the north around Christmas, and extensive damage assessments have been conducted across the state.

Have you or anyone you know been impacted by the recent storms in Queensland, members? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Very pitiful amount when damages are in the thousands of dollars. Of course there will be strings attched too. What else can you expect from a non caring govt,
 
The house that I shared with my older brother was flooded badly and we lost everything apart from a few clothes that were salvaged after the waters receded....the State Gov't set up community hubs for victims of flooding and through that we have got some temporary accommodation in a nearby town that wasn't affected by Cyclone Jasper.....what the future holds for us is really anyone's guess....all that we want is some permanent housing where we can start our lives over again. Hasn't been the best Christmas/New Year for us but we are extremely grateful for the help that we have received thus far....praying that the year gets better, along with so many others in the Cairns region.
 
Ah well. Anthropogenic Global Heating at work.. Today a scientist working for NASA suggested that the famed 1.5 degree C average increase in global temperature would be achieved by the end of 2024. We wuz warned a very long time ago and no-one gave a damn about it.

The current loss of ice in the Arctic, the world's mountain glaciers that are reservoirs of water for about 3 billion people in the world and the West Antarctic ice-sheet have been affected adversely by less than that 1.5 degrees C of AGH for a significant time. So expect changes to the Southern Ocean circulation and other life-changing stuff for the next umpteen hundreds of year. Oh, and keep using the SUV to drive to work and mum's SUV for taking the kids to school; by all means leave the engine running to run the SUV's aircon with the windows open whilst daughter nicks out of the car to the shopping centre to buy you the litre of milk you need.

We, as a species, have brought this disaster down onto our own heads and countries such as Australia and PR China and India and the USA and....and.... and.....have failed to do anything remotely useful to help avoid it. However, it has been an interesting scientific and sociological experiment to have watched, and no doubt to have contributed to in my own small individual way, for the last 60 years.
 
@magpie1 I have no doubt that all SDC members and administrators have you in their prayers. All the best to you and your brother. 🙏🏼
Thank you DLHM.....it is something that we never imagined could have happened to us.....however we are doing all that we can with the resources available to us at the moment and will just push on as best we can. The lack of rental accommodation at the moment is our most worrying issue and I'm sure that is an issue for many others also affected by the floods.
 
Thank you DLHM.....it is something that we never imagined could have happened to us.....however we are doing all that we can with the resources available to us at the moment and will just push on as best we can. The lack of rental accommodation at the moment is our most worrying issue and I'm sure that is an issue for many others also affected by the floods.
Rental accommodation is a huge problem just about everywhere in Australia. But even more so when Mother Nature unleashes her worst. Here in WA trying to find rentals is abysmal. ☹️
 
'I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror- the wide brown land for me!"

This is Australia!
 

Join the conversation

News, deals, games, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.

Seniors Discount Club

The SDC searches for the best deals, discounts, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.
  1. New members
  2. Jokes & fun
  3. Photography
  4. Nostalgia / Yesterday's Australia
  5. Food and Lifestyle
  6. Money Saving Hacks
  7. Offtopic / Everything else

Latest Articles

  • We believe that retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, not worry about money. That's why we're here to help our members make the most of their retirement years. If you're over 60 and looking for ways to save money, connect with others, and have a laugh, we’d love to have you aboard.
  • Advertise with us

User Menu

Enjoyed Reading our Story?

  • Share this forum to your loved ones.
Change Weather Postcode×
Change Petrol Postcode×