Advice from Sammut Bulow Accountants, Brisbane St, Ipswich
As you would no doubt be aware major flooding has occurred in many areas of Queensland over the
past two months with three quarters of the state declared a disaster zone.
The partners and staff at Sammut Bulow send our condolences to those of you who have been
affected by the flooding and offer our support and assistance in any way we can.
With many of our clients living and working in declared disaster areas we would like to detail the many
relief packages available from government which will assist those directly affected by the floods.
Please note that the following assistance packages are from various government agencies and
definitions of certain qualification criteria do vary. Before applying for any payments read the fact
sheets via the web links provided.
Flood Assistance For Business:
QRAA Special Disaster Flood Assistance (Small Business – Less Than 20 Employees)
Grants of up to $25,000 are available to assist eligible small businesses as follows:
 Initial claim: up to $5,000 to assist you with immediate early recovery
(subject to future QRAA audit)
 Subsequent claim: up to $20,000 to recover costs that you have paid in
order to repair direct flood damage.
Assistance under this scheme is not intended to compensate for loss of income.
More Info:
http://www.qraa.qld.gov.au/index.php?option=com_qraa&view=detail&id=201&Itemid=
89
QRAA also administers low interest loans of up to $250,000 to small businesses
under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Assistance scheme. To qualify for this
loan you must meet strict criteria such as the inability to source any other finance.
More Info:
http://www.qraa.qld.gov.au/index.php?option=com_qraa&view=detail&id=50&Itemid=89
Australian Taxation Office Assistance
The ATO recognises that businesses in flood affected areas may need more time to
meet their lodgement and payment obligations. If you need extra time for lodgement
of your Business Activity Statements and/or Income Tax Returns please let us know
as we may be able to seek extensions on any lodgement or payment obligations with
the Australian Taxation Office.
It is advised for all businesses who have ceased trade due to flooding and are currently
employing staff to call Fair Work Australia on 13 13 94 to discuss employment options.
Further information regarding flooding and employees remuneration can be found at Fair
Work Australia.
A practical tool for those businesses experiencing difficulties is the CPA Disaster Toolkit. This
document helps show business owners their options when restarting their business after a
natural diaster.
Flood Assistance for Individuals & Families:
Community Services Queensland Disaster Relief Financial Assistance
1. Emergent Assistance Grant
In the first few days following a disaster, a grant of $170 per person, up to a
maximum of $850 for a family of five or more is available. This grant is
available to people experiencing hardship due to the disaster who require
assistance to meet their basic needs. This grant is not means tested.
2. Essential Household Contents Grant
An Essential Household Contents Grant is available to eligible families and
individuals to help with the replacement or repair of uninsured, essential
household contents which have been lost, damaged or destroyed due to the
disaster. This grant is subject to a means test and is available to people
whose home contents are uninsured. The grant provides assistance of up to
$1660 for individuals and $4980 for families.
3. Structural Assistance Grant
A Structural Assistance Grant is available to assist repair owner-occupied,
uninsured residences damaged by the disaster. The residence must be the
property owner's sole place of residence and applicants for this grant must
satisfy an income and assets test. The grant provides a contribution towards
repairing eligible residence to a habitable and secure condition. Assistance of
up to $10 250 for individuals and $13 800 for families can be provided. A
Queensland Government assessor must visit your property before a
Structural Assistance Grant can be given and the agreed grant payment is
made to the tradesperson once work is completed.
More Info: http://www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/communityrecovery/publications/disaster-relief.html
Centrelink Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy
The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy has been activated to assist employees,
small business persons, and farmers who have had a loss of income as a direct result
of the flooding and severe weather that began from 29 November 2010 and
continued in January 2011 in the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria,
South Australia and Western Australia. Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy consists
of ex-gratia payments equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart Allowance. These
payments are means tested and apply to those who were unable to work due to the
floods.
More Info:
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/emergency/severe_weather_dec10_
dirs.htm
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) has been
activated to assist people who have been adversely affected by the heavy rainfall,
storm damage and associated flooding that began in November 2010 and continued
in January 2011 in the state of Queensland.
Payments of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child will be made if:
 a person was seriously injured, or
 a person is the immediate family member of an Australian killed as a direct
result of the disaster, or
 a person’s principal place of residence has been destroyed, or
 a person’s principal place of residence has sustained major damage, or
 a person is unable to gain access to their principal place of residence for a
period of 24 hours or more, or
 a person is stranded in their principal place of residence for a period of 24
hours or more, or
 a person's principal place of residence was without electricity, water, gas,
sewerage services or another essential service for at least 48 hours (a utility
failure) and the utility failure was caused by damage to public or private
infrastructure, or

a person is a principal carer of a dependent child who has experienced any of
the above.
More Info:
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/emergency/qld_flooding_dec10_agd
rp.htm
As you are probably aware the Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help fellow
Queenslanders affected by the recent floods. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. To donate visit
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html.
If you require any information on any of the above information please give us a call as we may be
able to assist you.
Martin Sammut & Brad Bulow – Partners of Sammut Bulow Certified Practising Accountants
Tel
Fax
Email
Web
07 3812 3400
07 3812 3401
martin@sammutbulow.com
sammutbulow.com