Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

More help for storm-affected Victorians

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be provided to eligible people adversely affected by the severe storms that hit Melbourne over the Labour Day holiday weekend in March.

Thousands of households were severely affected by the heaviest hailstorm in Melbourne’s recorded history on 5 March and further storms that struck in the following two days.

Financial assistance will be provided to eligible people who were seriously injured or whose principal place of residence was destroyed or significantly damaged by the storms.

Those who are eligible will receive a one-off payment of $1,000 for adults and $400 for each child to help them recover.

With more than 160 families unable to return to their homes, and thousands more with major damage to their homes, this payment will go some way to helping people get on with the job of cleaning up and restoring their homes.

This payment is over and above the support being provided by the Commonwealth Government to the Victorian Government under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) that apply to 39 local government areas throughout the state.

Under the NDRRA, the following personal hardship and distress assistance is being made available to people whose principal place of residence was affected by the storms:

  • Emergency grants of up to $1,067 to provide assistance to meet immediate basic needs such as clothing, food, personal items, appropriate shelter and specific one-off transport costs;
  • Temporary living expenses grants of up to $8,650 to assist households with the cost of temporary accommodation and living expenses; and
  • Re-establishment grants of up to $8,650 to assist with the re-establishment of a household’s principal place of residence.

For more information about personal hardship grants people should contact their local council or Department of Human Services office.

People adversely affected by the storms can call the Australian Victorian Floods hotline on 180 2002 or visit their local Centrelink office. People can claim the AGDRP over the next six months.

More information on Australian Government assistance is available at Disaster Assist website.