MORRISON SIGNS OFF ON DISASTER PACKAGE FOR FLOODING VICTIMS

DISASTER payments worth $585m will start flowing soon to shattered small businesses and community organisations as the Mud Army today mobilises in a herculean clean-up of thousands of southeast homes and livelihoods.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison late on Friday signed off on the package, which will also assist councils to rebuild battered infrastructure.

Deputy Premier Steven

Miles said the “category D” grants would be the biggest post-disaster support package since the 2011 floods.

Grants include up to $75,000 for primary producers, including a $15,000 upfront payment, while small businesses can apply for up to $50,000 each.

Community and sporting organisations will be able to apply for grants of up to $20,000. And local governments had been allocated $1m each to help their clean-up.

“This is the first round of this kind of assistance and we anticipate more may be required as we get a better sense of exactly what kind of damage businesses have suffered and how we can best support them through the recovery,” Mr Miles said.