CANBERRA, Nov 1 — Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced support funding for victims of October’s floods in the country’s second-most populous state, reported Xinhua.
The federal and Victorian governments on Tuesday announced an AU$877 million (US$561.2 million) Recovery Support package for businesses, charities and primary producers affected by the flood crisis.
Under the scheme, medium and large businesses directly impacted by the floods will be able to receive recovery grants of up to AU$200,000 (US$128,000).
Primary producers and rural landholders will be eligible for grants worth up to AU$75,000 (US$48,000) and eligible small businesses and not-for-profit organisations for up to AU$50,000 (US$32,000).
Albanese said the new round of grants would help businesses get back on their feet.
“These additional support packages will ensure Victorian businesses can rebuild with confidence,” he said in a statement.
Thousands of homes and businesses were inundated by floodwaters in Victoria, the second-most populous state where Melbourne is the capital city, in mid-October when the state was hit by torrential downpours.
Evacuation orders were issued for several towns in the state’s north and one person, a 71-year-old man, died.
The Australian Defence Force was deployed to fill sandbags and help with evacuation and preparation efforts.
A total of 250 beds at the Mickleham COVID-19 facility, which was built in Melbourne’s outer northern suburbs to quarantine international arrivals to Australia, have been made available as crisis accommodation.
