Disaster Assistance Loans - Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding (Primary Producers)
Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $5 million are available to assist primary producers affected by the Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, 21 March – 19 May 2025.
Loan features
| Loan amount | Maximum of $5,000,000 |
| Loan term | Up to 10 years |
| Interest rate | View the relevant interest rates for disaster events under the 'defined disaster' description below. These are also available 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:
Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, 21 March - 19 May 2025
- Balonne Shire Council
- Barcaldine Regional Council
- Barcoo Shire Council
- Blackall-Tambo Regional Council
- Boulia Shire Council
- Bulloo Shire Council
- Diamantina Shire Council
- Longreach Shire Council
- Murweh Shire Council
- Paroo Shire Council
- Quilpie Shire Council
- Winton Shire Council
Interest rate: 2.14%
Applications close 31 December 2026
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
Call QRIDA on 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 Disaster 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.
