Qld announces $771m flood recovery package but needs federal support

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has unveiled a multimillion-dollar recovery and buyback scheme in the wake of recent flooding, but says the federal government has to agree to jointly fund it.

Mr Miles also took aim at Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday morning for increasing individual disaster assistance payments for those affected in NSW but not for Queenslanders.

The Deputy Premier announced a $771 million overall package of funding, split into three components.

The first $725 million component will give residents the option of retrofitting, raising or selling their home, depending on what an assessment recommends.

The second $38 million part will increase structural assistance grants from about $14,500 up to $50,000 to enable people in flood-affected homes to conduct repairs.

The third component will give local governments $30 million in support to help improve infrastructure and beef up information sources relating to the flooding.

Queenslanders living in flooded homes, such as this one in Goodna, will have the option to retrofit, raise or sell their house.Credit: Getty Images

“The first part of this package is, we think, the biggest residential and recovery package ever, certainly in Australia and possibly the world,” Mr Miles said.

“These funding programs will allow us to now work with councils, insurers and property owners to ensure the best option for their property.”

The scheme will be set up under the national disaster recovery arrangements, and requires a 50-50 funding split and approval from the federal government, with Mr Miles calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to give it the green light.

Asked whether the scheme was totally dependent on federal funding, Mr Miles said the state could still go ahead with some of the money proposed, but he expected the federal government to agree to the package.

“There are well-established arrangements here for cost-sharing post-disasters … I certainly hope the Prime Minister agrees to this package,” he said.

“We have our funding approved and available now, and we’d look to the Commonwealth to come forward with their funds.”

Mr Miles also called on the Prime Minister to increase interim disaster payments for people in Queensland after the payments were increased for those in NSW this week.

People in NSW affected by the flooding can now access payments of up to $3000 following pressure on the government to match disaster payments given to people in hard-hit Lismore. However, Queenslanders affected by flooding can still only access $1000 in assistance.

“For whatever reason, [the federal government] has decided to provide a larger amount to people in NSW compared to those in Queensland,” Mr Miles said.

“No justification has been given for it, and we’d certainly hope to see Queenslanders get treated the same as NSW flood victims.”

Suncorp chief executive Steve Johnston said the scale of the disaster was becoming apparent, with the insurer recording 38,000 claims for support following the floods, with planning to deal with up to 45,000.

“It’s bigger than the combined Queensland 2011 floods, Cyclone Yasi, the Townsville floods and Cyclone Debbie,” Mr Johnston said.

Under the grants announced by the state government, people whose houses were directly affected by flooding will be able to access a range of grants depending on what they decide to do.

Grants of up to $50,000 will be available for people to retrofit their homes to put in flood resilience measures, with $275 million set aside for that group.

Up to $100 million has been set aside for individual grants to raise homes above historic flood levels, while $350 million has been earmarked for a buy-back scheme if people want to sell their home and move out of flooded areas.

The government has planned for up to 500 homes to be sold in this way, compared to the 50 homes bought back by the government in partnership with Brisbane City Council after the 2011 floods.