Key Points
- Anthony Albanese has announced disaster payments for those affected by flooding in Far North Queensland.
- Federal income support will also be available to assist eligible employees or sole traders.
- The prime minister will visit affected areas this week.
Applications for disaster recovery payments will soon open for people affected by flooding in Far North Queensland in the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced.
People who live in Cairns, the Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Mareeba, the Tablelands, Wujal Wujal, and Yarraabah local government areas can apply for a one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child who have suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods. Claims can be made from Wednesday.
A Disaster Recovery Allowance was available for 13 weeks of federal income support to help eligible employees or sole traders who experience a loss of income as a result of a major disaster, Albanese said
The prime minister and Queensland Premier Steven Miles will travel to Cairns on Thursday.
Flooding in Cairns. Source: Supplied / Cockatours
Evacuation of flood-hit community underway
Wujal Wujal residents have arrived in Cooktown, as evacuation efforts from the flood hit Aboriginal community continue.
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott says there was a sense of relief among the 20 who arrived at the evacuation centre in Cooktown on Tuesday.
"They're all smiles coming in," he said.
"They have been through a tough time, there's no doubt about that, but there was just gratitude, relaxed coming to a safe, dry, hospitable place."
Scott said while he was expecting more people, some residents had elected to stay in Wujal Wujal.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick are seen during a briefing as towns in north Queensland have been cut off by flooding in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper. Source: AAP / Darren England
"I'd much prefer them to come up here."
An initial evacuation attempt on Monday failed due to poor weather conditions.
Wujal Wujal was inundated with water in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper.
Miles said one home in the community had been destroyed, 15 had severe damage and 50 were moderately damaged.
The remaining 92 houses had minor damage.
The Australian Defence Force has sent two Chinook helicopters from Townsville to help evacuate stranded residents.
The evacuation is expected to continue into Wednesday.
Thousands of homes without power
Decreasing rain is helping to ease flooding across north tropical coast communities, while warnings have been finalised for the Barron River which had affected services at Cairns Airport, which was set to reopen on Tuesday.
No further rainfall of significance is forecast across the catchment over the next few days, but bureau forecaster Laura Boekel said people should monitor flood and river warnings.
Flooding across Cairns Northern Beaches, in Cairns, on Tuesday. Source: AAP, Supplied / Queensland Police Service
Ergon said more than 2,000 homes in Cairns and on the Cassowary coast had power restored but floodwaters would need to recede further before crews could do a thorough damage assessment and tackle extensive repairs.
