$75K Win A Lifeline For Farmers

North Queensland farmers have secured a long-fought victory, with the Federal and Queensland governments approving an increase in disaster recovery funding to $75,000 for primary producers. The announcement, made on March 12 by Senator Nita Green and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, marks a major step in supporting communities devastated by recent flooding.

After weeks of relentless advocacy from local farmers, industry groups, and community leaders, the Category D funding has finally been activated under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The boost also includes increases for small businesses and not-for-profits, now eligible for grants of up to $50,000.

“This wasn’t handed down from the heavens—it was won by the fighters on the ground who never backed down,” said Mr Katter.

By Amanda Wright

Flooded Farms, Fierce Advocacy
The Fight That Paid Off

For many in the sugarcane industry, this decision brings both financial relief and renewed hope, with CANEGROWERS and QCAR hailing it as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the devastation growers have faced.

“This increase reflects the rising costs of recovery and the immense challenges our farmers are dealing with,” CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said. “It’s a crucial step forward, but the road to full recovery will be long.”

QCAR Herbert District Manager Lawrence Di Bella agreed, saying, “This funding is not just about rebuilding farms—it’s about restoring livelihoods and communities that have been hit hard.”

While this funding is a critical step forward, industry advocates are pushing for further support to ensure long-term recovery, including additional assistance for replanting and infrastructure repairs.

Tears of relief replaced weeks of frustration for North Queensland’s flood-affected farmers as the Federal and Queensland governments approved an increase in disaster funding, boosting grants for primary producers to $75,000.

The announcement, delivered by Senator Nita Green and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter on March 12, comes after weeks of intense advocacy from industry leaders, local politicians, and the farming community. The decision also increases funding for small businesses and not-for-profits to $50,000.

The announcement was made at the farm of CANEGROWERS members Michael and Zenan Reinaudo, whose family property suffered severe flood damage. Their experience mirrors that of many other farmers across the region.

Bob Katter, who has been at the forefront of the push for Category D funding, credited the win to relentless efforts from agricultural organisations and local representatives.

“This funding wasn’t handed down from the heavens—it was won by the fighters on the ground who never backed down,” Mr Katter said.

He singled out CANEGROWERS’ Leah Russo, AgForce Queensland’s Shane McCarthy, and QCAR’s Lawrence Di Bella for their unwavering efforts.

“Yes, we thank the PM and the Minister, but it’s because of this group of people with a tiger in their tank that the grants have finally been activated,” he said.

CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan welcomed the increased support, emphasising that the original $25,000 grant was nowhere near enough to help growers rebuild.

“This increase reflects the rising costs of recovery for growers who have been hit hard by recent flooding,” Mr Galligan said.

“We’ve been clear from the beginning that the original amount was simply inadequate. This boost will make a real difference for those struggling to rebuild.”

QCAR Herbert District Manager Lawrence Di Bella described the funding boost as a step in the right direction, though challenges remain.

“This is a really positive step—it will rebuild our industry. Some of the damage is greater than $75,000, so we’ll still be looking for additional funding, but this is a great start,” Mr Di Bella said.

“The money that a farmer produces goes around our community multiple times. This is about rebuilding our entire community, not just individual farms.”

Mr Di Bella spoke of the sheer devastation farmers have faced.

“There were craters the size of swimming pools, tonnes of trash dumped on newly planted sugarcane, headlands washed away, trees uprooted, new creeks carved through fields, dead calves littering paddocks—the list goes on,” he said.

“Now there will be tears of relief with the release of Category D grants.”

AgForce Queensland General President Shane McCarthy agreed, calling the announcement a lifeline.

“This goes a long way to getting farmers back up and producing, which is what they need to do,” Mr McCarthy said.

“It’s not just this flood—it’s the accumulation of a few tough seasons. We need to get our producers back up and doing what they do best.”

Funding Secured, But The Recovery Battle Continues

Despite the funding win, industry leaders stress that further work is needed to ensure all farmers receive fair support.

QCAR CEO Stephen Ryan noted that current eligibility rules could leave some struggling farmers behind.

“We must now make sure the funding is fair and reaches those who need it,” Mr Ryan said.

He cited the case of Ingham sugarcane farmer Luke Roveda, who also runs a harvesting business and works as a glazier with his father. Under current rules, he could be deemed ineligible because less than 51% of his gross income comes from sugarcane.

“These rules don’t reflect the reality of modern farming. Many producers diversify their income to survive, and they shouldn’t be penalised for it,” Mr Ryan said.

Another issue is funding for replanting crops, which remains restricted to plant cane rather than ratoon crops, despite ratoon cane making up about 84% of the Herbert’s sugarcane.

“This exemption makes no sense,” Mr Di Bella said. “If we’re serious about recovery, we need to ensure farmers can replant properly.”

QCAR is also pushing for additional funds to repair creek banks and drainage systems, support local businesses, restore the rail network for this year’s crushing season, and improve mental health services for impacted farmers.

Senator Nita Green reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting North Queensland’s recovery.

“This is all part of a bigger disaster recovery response from our two governments,” Senator Green said.

“We will continue to work with people on the ground to identify areas where funding or criteria can be improved.”

She acknowledged the vital role farmers and industry groups played in securing the funding.

“Thank you to the primary producers who welcomed this announcement with me today. North Queensland, we’ve got your back,” she said.

In addition to the increased grants, more than $50 million in extraordinary disaster assistance is now available to support North Queensland’s long-term recovery, including:
$30 million for sport and recreation community facilities
$20 million for community and recreational asset recovery
Extended disaster assistance for more councils across North and Far North Queensland

For farmers like Michael and Zenan Reinaudo, the funding boost brings hope after weeks of uncertainty. However, as industry leaders continue to advocate for further changes, the focus remains on ensuring all affected growers receive the support they need to recover and rebuild.

“This isn’t just about fixing damage—it’s about restoring livelihoods,” Mr Galligan said.

“Our growers have fought hard for this, and we’ll keep fighting to ensure they get the support they deserve.”