The joint Australian Government – State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and communities impacted by a natural disaster.
The arrangements, referred to in Western Australia as the DRFAWA, is administered by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), with the assistance for primary producers managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Assistance for primary producers is provided on an as needs basis to eligible applicants, whose assets or primary production business have been impacted as a direct result of an eligible disaster event.
Assistance is not provided as compensation for damage or losses sustained and an eligibility criteria applies.
As at 30 April 2021, the assistance measures available are:
- Freight subsidy – reimbursement of up to a maximum of 50 per cent for the cost of transporting livestock, fodder or water for livestock, building or fencing equipment or machinery as a result of the disaster.
- Fencing subsidy – reimbursement of up to 100 per cent of the costs associated with the repair/replacement of boundary fencing along road or rail corridors damaged/lost as a direct result of the disaster (only available to commercial livestock producers).
- Professional advice – reimbursement of fees to a maximum of $1500 for professional advice addressing issues directly related to the disaster.
- Interest rate subsidy – for new loans of up to $150,000 taken out to repair/replace assets damaged/destroyed as a direct result of the disaster (the subsidy is capped at a maximum of $6000).
Further advice will be provided, should additional assistance be made available.
