PM’s cash rescue package, with more to come

Scott Morrison to release major funding packages rebuild flood-hit communities facing multi-billion-dollar damage bills.

Piles flood-damaged goods are seen outside businesses on Thursday Lismore’s central business district. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Scott Morrison will rollout a series of major funding packages ahead of the budget to rebuild flood-hit communities facing multi-billion-dollar damage bills, amid warnings of more storms for NSW and Queensland early next week.

The Prime Minister unveiled an initial $435m clean-up support package for NSW cities and towns on Thursday following meetings with ministers, bureaucrats, and meteorological, logistics and ­defence officials.

After supply chains between Sydney and central Queensland were disrupted by the floods, Emergency Management Australia chief Joe Buffone will work with grocery and trucking companies to ensure shelves are stocked and vital supplies are available in the worst-affected areas.

Mr Morrison convened the virtual meeting from Kirribilli House, where he is recovering from Covid-19, bringing together Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell, Services Australia chief executive Rebecca Skinner and Bureau of Meteorology director Andrew Johnson.

The Australian understands once the clean-up and insurance assessments are completed, the government will announce further support to help homeowners and businesses. There are growing concerns that regional communities could take years to rebuild homes amid a shortage of skilled tradies.

An aerial view of a flooded church and other buildings in Lismore as floods ripped through earlier in the week, Picture: Bradley Richardson/ADF

In a joint statement with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Mr Morrison said the initial joint commonwealth-NSW funding package would provide grants of up to $75,000 for farmers and $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations. The NSW government estimates the first round of grants will cost a combined $201m.

“We will be there to help farmers, small businesses and every community in NSW to get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Mr Morrison said. “Farmers will need to restock and rebuild, and small businesses will need help replacing damaged goods and shop fronts, and when more support is needed, more support will be given.

“I have already asked the NSW Premier to provide my government with a proposal for a second support package to ensure all communities get the support they need.”

Mr Morrison said he was working with the Queensland government on what support will be provided after the commonwealth activated grants through the disaster recovery fund.

The Morrison government is providing disaster recovery payments in 21 Queensland local government areas.

“This initial package is in ­addition to the federally funded $1000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small business, which to date has already paid out almost $63m in a matter of days,” Mr Morrison said.

Following the devastation in southeast Queensland and northern NSW, and ongoing threats of damaging storms, attention on Thursday focused on evacuations in Sydney and the Hunter Valley.

Mr Perrottet said the grants would be distributed quickly to provide immediate relief across 17 local government disaster areas between Sydney and Tweed Heads. About $210m will go towards helping communities clean-up and remove flood and storm-related debris, green waste and damage.

Deputy Prime Minister ­Barnaby Joyce, who conceded the climate was changing, warned more rain was coming.

“The latest weather report is a possibility of a new low that develops around Sydney, which could bring in substantial rain … into the Warragamba catchment,” Mr Joyce told Sky News.

“It’s an incredible, remarkable and devastating weather event.”