Disaster Assistance Loans
Disaster Assistance Loans are available to assist primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations with re-establishing normal operations.
Loan features
| Loan amount | Maximum of $250,000 |
| Loan term | Up to 10 years |
| Interest rate | View the relevant interest rates for disaster events on the Interest rate page |
| Repayments | If needed, up to two years interest only may be available. |
| Security | A loan under the scheme must be secured by a mortgage of land and other assets satisfactory to QRIDA. |
| Fees | No establishment fees, no account maintenance fees and no fees for early payout. |
What assistance is available?
Concessional loans are provided to assist you to re-establish the normal operations of your primary production enterprise by covering costs such as:
- repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment
- repairing or replacing farm buildings
- purchasing livestock to replace those lost in the disaster event
- meeting carry-on requirements including:
- re-planting, restoring or re-establishing areas affected by the disaster event
- sustenance
- essential property operations
- paying rent and rates
Individually Disaster Stricken Properties (IDSP)
Primary producers significantly affected during a disaster, but not located in a defined disaster area may be eligible to apply for assistance as an individually disaster-stricken enterprise. In this circumstance, the current commercial lending rate applies unless the concessional interest rate is granted by QRIDA.
To apply on this basis you should first apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) Certificate through the Department of Primary Industries. For further information please visit the Department of Primary Industries website or call 13 25 23.
Defined disaster areas
The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for primary producers for the following events:
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, associated rainfall and flooding 25 January – 26 February 2024
-
Boulia Shire Council
-
Burdekin Shire Council
-
Burke Shire Council
-
Charters Towers Regional Council
-
City of Moreton Bay
-
Cloncurry Shire Council
-
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
-
Etheridge Shire Council
-
Lockyer Valley Regional Council
-
McKinlay Shire Council
-
Mount Isa City Council
-
Richmond Shire Council
-
Townsville City Council
-
Western Downs Regional Council
-
Winton Shire Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall, 24 December 2023 - 3 January 2024
-
City of Gold Coast Council
-
Logan City Council
-
Scenic Rim Regional Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding, 13 - 28 December 2023
-
Cairns Regional Council
-
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
-
Cook Shire Council
-
Douglas Shire Council
-
Hinchinbrook Shire Council
-
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
-
Mareeba Shire Council
-
Tablelands Regional Council
-
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
-
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Northern Queensland Bushfires, 18 October - 8 December 2023
-
Cook Shire Council
-
Flinders Shire Council
-
Mareeba Shire Council
-
McKinlay Shire Council
-
Tablelands Regional Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Southern Queensland Fires, 8 September - 7 November 2023
To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas:
- Bundaberg Regional Council
- Central Highlands Regional Council
- Gladstone Regional Council
- Maranoa Regional Council
- North Burnett Regional Council
- South Burnett Regional Council
- Southern Downs Regional Council
- Toowoomba Regional Council
- Western Downs Regional Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Northern and Central Queensland Monsoon and Flooding, 20 December 2022 - 30 April 2023
To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas:
- Boulia Shire Council
- Burke Shire Council
- Carpentaria Shire Council
- Cloncurry Shire Council
- Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
- Mornington Shire Council
- Mount Isa City Council
Applications close 31 December 2024.
QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Loan features
| Loan amount | Maximum of $250,000 |
| Loan term | Up to 10 years |
| Interest rate | View the relevant interest rates for disaster events on the Interest rate page |
| Repayments | If needed, up to two years interest only may be available. |
| Security | A loan under the scheme must be secured by a mortgage of land and other assets satisfactory to QRIDA. |
| Fees | No establishment fees, no account maintenance fees and no fees for early payout. |
What assistance is available?
Concessional loans are provided to assist you to re-establish the normal operations of your small business by covering costs such as:
- repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment
- repairing or replacing buildings
- supplying stock for up to one month to replace lost stock and maintain liquidity of the business
- meeting carry-on requirements including:
- sustenance
- paying rent and rates.
Defined disaster areas
The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for:
South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall, 24 December 2023 - 3 January 2024
-
City of Gold Coast Council
-
Logan City Council
-
Scenic Rim Regional Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding, 13 - 28 December 2023
-
Cairns Regional Council
-
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
-
Cook Shire Council
-
Douglas Shire Council
-
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
-
Mareeba Shire Council
-
Tablelands Regional Council
-
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
-
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Southern Queensland Fires, 8 September - 7 November 2023
To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas:
- Western Downs Regional Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Northern and Central Queensland Monsoon and Flooding, 20 December 2022 - 30 April 2023
To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas:
- Boulia Shire Council
- Burke Shire Council
- Carpentaria Shire Council
- Cloncurry Shire Council
- Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
- Mornington Shire Council
- Mount Isa City Council
Applications close 31 December 2024.
QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Loan features
| Loan amount | Maximum of $100,000 |
| Loan term | Up to 10 years |
| Interest rate | View the relevant interest rates for disaster events on the Interest rate page |
| Repayments | If needed, up to two years interest only may be available. |
| Security | A loan under the scheme must be secured by a mortgage of land and other assets satisfactory to QRIDA. |
| Fees | No establishment fees, no account maintenance fees and no fees for early payout. |
What assistance is available?
Concessional loans are provided to assist you to re-establish the normal operations of your non-profit organisation by covering costs such as:
- repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment
- repairing or replacing essential premises including grounds, amenities and infrastructure
- supplying stock for up to one month to replace lost stock and maintain liquidity of the organisation
Defined disaster areas
The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for:
South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall, 24 December 2023 - 3 January 2024
-
City of Gold Coast Council
-
Logan City Council
-
Scenic Rim Regional Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding, 13 - 28 December 2023
-
Cairns Regional Council
-
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
-
Cook Shire Council
-
Douglas Shire Council
-
Mareeba Shire Council
-
Tablelands Regional Council
-
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
-
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
Applications close 31 December 2025.
Northern and Central Queensland Monsoon and Flooding, 20 December 2022 - 30 April 2023
To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas:
- Boulia Shire Council
- Burke Shire Council
- Carpentaria Shire Council
- Cloncurry Shire Council
- Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
- Mornington Shire Council
- Mount Isa City Council
Applications close 31 December 2024.
QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Frequently asked questions
A Disaster Assistance Loan of up to $250,000 is available to assist primary production businesses who have experienced direct damage as a result of the disaster event. This loan can be utilised to fund repair and reinstatement costs for your business, and to meet normal operating expenses that the business is unable to meet due to the impact of the disaster event (e.g. lease payments, property rates, creditors).
An Essential Working Capital (EWC) Loan of up to $100,000 is available to assist primary production businesses who have not experienced direct damageas a result of the disaster event but have experienced a negative impact on their normal business cashflow and are consequently unable to meet normal operating expenses (e.g. lease payments, property rates, wages, creditors). For example, a primary production businesses may be eligible for an EWC Loan if their farms were not physically impacted by the disaster event however the business suffered a significant loss of income throughout the disaster period. The business may not be able to meet normal operating expenses within its existing credit limits. These requirements over and above your existing credit limits can be met by the EWC loan.
Freecall 1800 623 946 for assistance with your loan application. Alternatively, your accountant, bank or financial or business advisor may also be able to assist with your application also.
QRIDA assesses applications based on the future viability of the business with the assistance provided. Security is the second consideration. Preferably security is available over landed assets, however, security over other business assets may be acceptable.
Yes, the cashflow budget template provided by QRIDA is not mandatory. If you have your own cashflow budget template then you are able to provide this to QRIDA as part of your loan application. However, please note that an itemised monthly cashflow is required for all applications, preferably in a financial year (July to June) format.
You are unable to claim the same direct damage expenses via both the Grant and Loan Schemes. However, if the total of your recovery expenditure has exceeded the amount of assistance available via these Schemes, then you can seek loan assistance for the expenses that were not covered by the schemes.
In order to give you the best chance of success, QRIDA needs to understand the historical performance of your business, your current position and your plan moving forward. Without this information, QRIDA would be unable to determine the level of assistance you need and your prospects of returning to a viable business with the assistance provided.
No, reduced profit is not an eligible purpose under the Extraordinary Bushfire Assistance Loan.
Primary producer means:
- a sole trader who spends the majority of their labour on, and derives the majority of their income from a primary production enterprise; or
- in relation to a partnership, company or trust that carries on a primary production enterprise, the partners in the partnership, shareholders in the company or beneficiaries of the trust who spend the majority of their labour on, and derive the majority of their income from, the primary production enterprise.
QRIDA is committed to ensuring due administrative processes are undertaken with the decisioning of applications for Government assistance.
When making decisions on applications, as well as the internal review of a decision, QRIDA follows the QRIDA Decision-Making Policy and Procedure.
You can view this Policy and Procedure on the Reviewing a decision page.
