The objective of this assistance measure, provided under the disaster recovery funding arrangements, is to support communities to recover after an eligible disaster.

The Essential Working Capital Loans Scheme provides concessional loans to primary producers who have suffered a significant loss of income as a result of an eligible disaster.

Loans are provided for continuing the normal operations of the primary production enterprise.

Available funding:

The maximum loan amount is $100,000; and

• the amount available is based on an assessment of an applicant’s financial position, including any amount recovered under an insurance policy; and
• cannot be more than the amount of essential working capital reasonably required.

Current Interest rate is 2.14%

Defined disaster areas

The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for primary producers for the following events:

North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji and Severe Weather commencing 24 December 2025

• Burdekin Shire Council
• Carpentaria Shire Council
• Cloncurry Shire Council
• Croydon Shire Council
• Flinders Shire Council
• Isaac Regional Council
• Mackay Regional Council
• McKinlay Shire Council
• Richmond Shire Council
• Whitsunday Regional Council
• Winton Shire Council

Applications close 31 December 2027.

Western Queensland Surface Trough and Associated Rainfall and Flooding, commencing 21 March - 19 May 2025

• Balonne Shire Council
• Barcaldine Regional Council
• Barcoo Shire Council
• Blackall-Tambo Regional Council
• Boulia Shire Council
• Bulloo Shire Council
• Diamantina Shire Council
• Longreach Shire Council
• Murweh Shire Council
• Paroo Shire Council
• Quilpie Shire Council
• Winton Shire Council

Applications close 31 December 2026.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred and Severe Weather, commencing 1 - 16 March 2025

• Brisbane City Council
• Bundaberg Regional Council
• Fraser Coast Regional Council
• Gold Coast City Council
• Gympie Regional Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City Council
• Moreton Bay City Council
• Noosa Shire Council
• Redland City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• Southern Downs Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council
• Toowoomba Regional Council

Applications close 31 December 2026

North and Far North Tropical Low, 29 January - 28 February 2025

• Burdekin Shire Council
• Cairns Regional Council
• Cassowary Coast Regional Council
• Charters Towers Regional Council
• Flinders Shire Council
• Hinchinbrook Shire Council
• Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council
• Tablelands Regional Council
• Townsville City Council
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council

Applications close 31 December 2026

Eligibility criteria:

To be eligible for a loan: 

• the applicant must be a primary producer 
• before the eligible disaster, the applicant carried on a primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area 
• the applicant has suffered a significant loss of income as a result of the eligible disaster

To be eligible applicants must also: 

• provide adequate security and loans must be secured by:
  • a mortgage of land and other assets satisfactory to QRIDA; and
  • any other security considered necessary, for example – a Specific Security Agreement over plant and machinery, crops, livestock or a General Securities Agreement. 
• continue to carry on the primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area 
• have reasonable prospects for carrying on the primary production enterprise on a viable basis with the assistance given 
• have used all liquid assets and all normal credit sources up to normal credit limits (this will be assessed in relation to the expected cost of recovery and projected cash flow shortfalls) 
• have no reasonable prospects of obtaining commercial finance to carry on the enterprise 
• have not received another concessional loan for loss or damage that was related to the eligible disaster 
• have not taken excessive risks in carrying on the primary production enterprise.

• Phone: 1800 623 946
• Fax: (07) 3032 0300
• Email: contact_us@qrida.qld.gov.au