Premier promises anyone affected by floods to be covered

David Crisafulli has promised point-blank that anyone able to prove they were impacted by the NQ floods can qualify for government assistance, but some residents are still being knocked back for federal grants. Here’s why.

Brian Murphy watches the river rises very closely at Pimlico as Townsville residents endure another day of heavy rain and threats of catastrophic flooding. Pics Adam Head

David Crisafulli has vowed point-blank that anyone able to prove they were impacted by the North Queensland 2025 floods can qualify for government assistance, as he announced a new $101.5m in recovery funding.

“If someone has been impacted, and they are outside the Townsville black zone for example, they are still able to get help,” the Queensland Premier said.

“You will get assistance if you have been impacted. Pick up the phone and call.”

On Thursday, February 13, Mr Crisafulli travelled to Annandale to announce $1.5m to beef-up charities assisting with recovery efforts, and $100m for primary producers and small businesses in certain “flood declared areas” from Hughenden to Cairns.

The announcement comes as Townsville residents and MP’s push for the whole Townsville City Council region to be officially listed as eligible for disaster assistance.

David Crisafulli announces $100m for primary producers, small businesses and $1.5m for charities while visiting Annandale.

Townsville MP Adam Baillie says those outside the ‘black zone’ of eligible suburbs need to directly contact the recovery team to be assessed on a “case-by-case basis”.

Mr Baillie said Community Recovery has updated their guidelines so all Townsville residents can apply to be considered for assistance.

“I am fighting to make sure Townsville residents who have had their livelihoods and homes affected by the recent weather event are supported,” he said.

“Support should not be limited by an arbitrary line on a map, but rather whether the resident was impacted.”

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson, speaks to the media at the press conference held at Townsville's local Disaster Management Centre on Friday February 7. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Federal MP Phillip Thompson said more needs to be done and a “case-by-case” basis isn’t good enough.

Mr Thompson said he’d heard stories of flood affected homes and businesses in areas including Pimlico, Kirwan and Wulguru, which were not currently on the list of eligible suburbs.

On February 6, Ms Leahy and Ms McAllister announced 26 more suburbs would be added to the list for the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme.

The scheme allows for grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more for essentials like food, clothing and medicines.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson with soldiers from Townsville's 3rd Brigade of the Australian Army working hard to repair the Bruce Highway, including the Ollera Creek Bridge north of Townsville.

Mr Thompson shared examples of Townsville residents he has spoken to including a single mother with two kids who are homeless and lost everything, despite living in a suburb that wasn’t in an “affected zone”.

He said he has also heard from people who are in the list of eligible areas, who are having trouble applying once entering their address.

6/02/2025: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Minister for Emergency Management and Cities Jenny McAllister visit the Ollera Creek Bridge, north of Townsville following flooding in Far North Queensland. Picture: PMO

“I don’t think it’s good enough to say or have a view of ‘we’ll do it case-by-case’,” Mr Thompson told the Bulletin.

“We’ve had the Prime Minister come here, the Minister for Emergency Management and their language is ‘no one will be forgotten, we will help everyone’. They have left and we are still here. The people of Townsville have to pick up the pieces,” he said.

A number of Ingham residents have been reporting they are being denied the Federal Government’s $1000 “Australian Government Recovery Payment”.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said he was aware of these denials and has been encouraging everyone knocked back to contact the Federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister directly.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council Deputy Mayor Mary Brown (right), flanked by Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy, speaking outside the council headquarters in flood-ravaged Ingham on Tuesday. Picture: Cameron Bates

“We’re hearing that one of the questions for this payment was ‘have you lost over $20,000 of household goods’ but the people who really need this money the most don’t have $20,000 of household goods,” Mr Dametto said.

“We’ve had a number of people contacting our office about this and we weren’t overly impressed with the response from the Minister’s (McAllister’s) office when we raised it.”

Back in Townsville, Mr Thompson said this flood event was the first time he’d seen Commonwealth state disaster funding been broken down into suburbs instead of the whole local government area.

Adam Baillie, State Member for Townsville, speaks to the media at the press conference held at Townsville's local Disaster Management Centre on Friday February 7. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole said she has had many conversations on the ground with impacted residents, with a common theme of not being included in the list of suburbs.

“It’s not just if you’ve been evacuated for the black zone or if you’ve been identified as being in the pink zone – there are other people that have been affected through water seepage in some way, shape or form,” she said.

“It is certainly something that our government will be looking at providing that extra support.”

Available government funding for residents

Queensland government: Personal/Emergency Hardship Assistance Scheme ($900 for families, $180 per person, up to $5000 for uninsured homeowners)

Australian Government: Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment ($1000 per adult, $400 per child) and the Disaster Recovery Allowance (13 weeks of income).

Current NQ localities activated for the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme

Burdekin: All areas.

Cairns: Gordonvale (targeted areas).

Cassowary Coast: Bilyana, Bingil Bay, Birkalla, Bulgun, Cardwell, Carmoo, Carruchan, Damper Creek, Dingo Pocket, Djarawong, Djiru, Dunk, East Feluga, El Arish, Ellerbeck

Euramo, Feluga, Friday Pocket, Garners Beach, Granadilla, Gulngai, Hull Heads, Jarra Creek, Kennedy, Lower Tully, Lumholtz, Maadi, Maria Creeks, Merryburn, Midgenoo, Midgeree Bar, Mission Beach, Mount Mackay, Munro Plains, Murray Upper, Murrigal, Rockingham, Shell Pocket, Silky Oak, South Mission Beach, Tam O’Shanter, Tully, Tully Heads, Walter Hill, Warrami, Wongaling Beach.

Charters Towers: All areas

Hinchinbrook: All areas

Palm Island: All areas

Townsville: Alligator Creek, Arcadia, Balgal Beach, Black River, Blue Hills, Bluewater, Bluewater Park, Cape Cleveland, Clemant, Cluden, Crystal Creek, Cungulla, Florence Bay, Gumlow, Hermit Park, Horseshoe Bay, Idalia, Lynam, Majors Creek, Mutarnee, Nelly Bay, Nome, Oonoonba, Paluma, Picnic Bay, Railway Estate, Rollingstone, Rosslea, Saunders Beach, South Townsville, Stuart, Toolakea, Toomulla, West Point and Yabulu.

Eligible residents can apply via www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Originally published as Premier promises anyone affected by floods to be covered