Financial Assistance
NSW Government
This NSW Government funding package will help forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries impacted by the recent bushfires to rebuild, recover, regrow and remain the heartbeat of regional economies.
https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/bushfire-industry-recovery-package
Service NSW
Bushfire Customer Care Service
NSW Government is delivering bushfire recovery assistance to help people and businesses impacted by bushfires. The Service NSW bushfire customer care service has specialists to help guide you every step of the way .
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/bushfire-customer-care-service
Rural Assistance Authority
Find out about the available financial assistance programs
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants
Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy
A natural disaster assistance transport subsidy is available to eligible farmers who are affected by a declared natural disaster event. This subsidy pays for the cost of transporting: fodder and/or water to an affected property, stock to sale or slaughter, stock to/from agistment.
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/natural-disaster-transport-subsidy
Donated Fodder Transport Subsidy
A subsidy is available for the cost of transporting donated fodder organised by community groups or other organisations within NSW to a central location for distribution to properties affected by drought and other emergencies. This subsidy will pay for 100% of the costs of transporting donated fodder from within NSW up to a maximum of $5 per kilometre (plus GST) to a maximum eligible distance of 1,500 kilometres.
See link below for further guidelines
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/donated-fodder-transport-subsidy
Disaster Relief Loans
Primary Producers
Primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster who are in urgent and genuine need of assistance, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000. This low interest rate loan can help a farm business to: continue to operate your farm businesses for the next twelve months or until the next income is received, replace and repair damage caused to the property and associated improvements not covered by insurance.
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/disaster-recovery-loans/primary-producers
Small Business
Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000. This low interest rate loan can help a small business: return to its normal level of trading or until the next major income is received within 12 months from the date of disaster, replace and repair damage caused to your small business and associated improvements not covered by insurance.
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/disaster-recovery-loans/small-business
Non-profit organisations
Natural disaster relief loans assist voluntary non-profit organisations directly affected by a declared natural disaster including flood, fire or storm damage. Low interest rate loans are available: for the restoration of essential facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, and may also be directed towards temporary storage or leasing of alternate premises
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/disaster-recovery-loans/non-profit-organisations
Sporting and Recreation clubs
Natural disaster financial assistance is available to help sporting and recreation clubs directly affected by a declared natural disaster including flood, fire or storm damage. This low interest rate loan can help: meet the costs of restoring essential club facilities, equipment or other assets that have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/disaster-recovery-loans/sporting-and-recreation-clubs
Department of Communities and Justice
Access social housing assistance and support
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/about/contact/housing
Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services
Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline 1800 814 647
In a bush fire emergency, NSW Department of Primary Industries works with Local Land Services (LLS) to support the NSW Rural Fire Service to: Assist primary producers, animal holding establishments and the community to be prepared for bushfires, Coordinate rescue, evacuation and emergency care for animals, Coordinate assessment, humane destruction and disposal of affected animals, Support recovery arrangements including providing impact damage assessments and contributing to recovery centres and committees
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/bushfires
Office of Emergency Management
NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants
NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants are available for eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household contents have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster. To be eligible for this grant you must: be a low-income earner and meet an income assets test, demonstrate that the affected home is your principal place of residence, not be covered by insurance, demonstrate that the damage was caused by the disaster, lodge the application within four months of the disaster occurring
Contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.
Disaster Welfare Assistance Line 1800 018 444
OPEN EVERY DAY, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Federal Government
Australian Government disaster recovery assistance hotline: 180 2266
Immediate Small Business Support for Bushfire Affected Communities
Grant Funding
To build on the disaster recovery grants put in place by state governments, the Federal Government will provide top-up grants to eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
This program is uncapped and means that businesses and organisations that have sustained damage as a result of the fires can access up to $50,000 in grant funding (tax free).
Concessional Loans
As well as extra support announced already for families and communities to help keep spending in local stores, the Federal Government wants to ensure small businesses have cashflow to run their operations.
The Federal Government will boost the value and concessions for small business loans, also on offer to farmers, primary producers and non-profit organisations, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
To provide maximum flexibility for eligible businesses, loans of up to $500,000 will be offered for businesses that have suffered significant asset loss or a significant loss of revenue. The loan would be for up to 10 years and used for the purposes of restoring or replacing damaged assets and for working capital.
The loans will be available with a repayment holiday of up to two years, with no interest accruing during this period. The subsequent interest rate would be set at 50 per cent of the ten-year Commonwealth government bond rate (currently around 0.6%).
The Government will be seeking the agreement of the states to provide these loans under harmonised, consistent terms and eligibility criteria.
Dedicated, Single Contact Point
The Government will deliver $3.5 million to establish the Small Business Bushfire Financial Support Line as well as to fund 10 additional financial counsellors with the ability to provide advice to around 100 small businesses a day.
We want to ensure small businesses have access to the information that they need, when they need it. The Support Line will be staffed by small business specialist financial counsellors who will be able to provide information on the assistance and support available to small businesses in bushfire affected regions.
The Support Line, which will be staffed by trained financial counsellors, will provide information on the assistance and support available to small businesses in bushfire affected regions.
While the specialist Support Line is being established, businesses can visit www.business.gov.au or call 13 28 46.
The Commonwealth will also provide support as required to Recovery Centres that are being established by the states in fire-impacted regions. These Centres will be a one-stop-shop for small business owners and operators to ensure they have access to immediate expert support.
Tax Relief
The Commissioner of Taxation has agreed to provide a range of assistance measures to businesses in identified bushfire-impacted postcodes to help to alleviate cash flow pressures and assist these businesses with their recovery efforts.
In particular, taxpayers in impacted postcodes will now have until 28 May 2020 to lodge and pay business activity statements and income tax returns. Impacted businesses that pay their Pay-As-You-Go Instalments quarterly are also allowed to vary these instalments to zero for the December 2019 quarter and claim a refund for any instalments made in the September 2019 quarter.
These measures will assist small businesses with much-needed cashflow support during this difficult time.
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/immediate-small-business-support-bushfire-affected-communities
Department of Human Services
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/help-emergency
Disaster Recovery Allowance
Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment to help you if a declared disaster directly affects your income. You can get it for a maximum of 13 weeks. It’s payable from the date you lose income as a direct result of the disaster. Disaster Recovery Allowance is a taxable payment. You can ask us to withhold voluntary tax deductions from your payments. If you get Disaster Recovery Allowance you might be able to access Beneficiary Tax Offset. This reduces the amount of tax you may have to pay. You’ll need to contact the Australian Taxation Office to find out more about this.
Disaster Assist
Provides information on assistance for current disasters.