Extension of disaster relief payment welcome

Clarence Nationals MP, Richie Williamson MP, has welcomed the extension of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) to the entire Clarence Valley and Richmond Valley local government areas, following his calls for broader support for flood-affected communities.

Mr Williamson previously wrote to NSW Premier Chris Minns, urging the State Government to advocate for this additional assistance from the Federal Government, ensuring that residents who have sustained major damage to their principal place of residence or essential personal belongings can access vital financial relief.

“This is an important and necessary step for our communities that have suffered significant damage and disruption following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. I thank both the State and Federal Governments for listening to the concerns I raised on behalf of our community and for extending this support,” Mr Williamson said.

“This payment is not a free-for-all—eligibility is strict. People must have suffered major damage to their principal place of residence or essential personal belongings to qualify. I encourage residents to carefully review the criteria before applying.”

Under the AGDRP, eligible residents will receive:

$1,000 per eligible adult
$400 per eligible child

Claims for AGDRP and the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will open from 2pm on Monday, 17 March 2025, via myGov or the Services Australia website https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/.

Residents needing assistance can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.

Mr Williamson also encouraged residents to check their eligibility for the Personal Hardship Assistance Payment, which is jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments and administered by Service NSW.

Eligible residents may receive between $180 – $900, depending on household size, if they were impacted by:

Power outages lasting 48 hours or more, or
Evacuation Orders (Category Red Emergency Warning)

“I urge all eligible residents to apply through the Service NSW website https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/ as soon as possible and access every available support to help them recover,” Mr Williamson said.

“I will continue advocating for additional assistance where needed and ensure our communities receive the help they require as they rebuild.”