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Business assistance for disasters and emergencies
What to do in an emergency
It's important to stay up to date with the latest information. In a flood event, the situation can change quickly.
Regularly check your state emergency service website for the most up to date information about the situation and any actions you need to take.
- Australian Capital Territory - Check the ACT Emergency Services incidents map.
- New South Wales - Stay up-to-date on the latest NSW community advice for your area on the NSW State Emergency Service website.
- Northern Territory - See the latest weather warnings for Northern Territory on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
- Queensland - Find the latest Queensland flood maps, weather warnings and emergency alerts on the Queensland Government website.
- South Australia - Follow the South Australian State Emergency Service incidents and warnings map.
- Tasmania - Keep up-to-date on the latest emergency warnings and alerts on the Tasmania Alert website.
- Victoria - See the local flood guides in Victoria on the Victoria State Emergency Service website.
- Western Australia - Find current river levels and flood warnings on the Government of Western Australia website.
When an emergency happens you should follow your business’s emergency management plan.
If you don't have one, you can use our take action checklist to help you though the next steps.
There are steps you can take to help keep your business operating in times of unexpected circumstances and disasters.
Use your emergency management plan or our take action checklist to help to keep your business running.
Make sure your ABN details and business location are correct on the Australian Business Register (ABR). Government agencies use this information to check if you are eligible for financial assistance, grants or support during emergencies.
Did you know?
Your main business address on the ABR should not be a post office box or tax or BAS agent address (unless you are running your business as a tax or BAS agent).
To ensure you have access to the right government financial support, we need to know the physical street address of your business or organisation.
If you haven’t updated your ABN details on the ABR for some time, go to the ABR website to check and update your ABN details.
May 2025 NSW East Coast severe weather and flooding
New South Wales
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Recovery grants
Small businesses and non-profits can get up to $25,000 to help with clean-up, repairs and reopening.
Service NSW -
Disaster Recovery Allowance
Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the severe weather and flooding.
Services Australia -
Natural disaster relief loans
Low interest loans of up to $130,000 are available to help small businesses and primary producers recover.
NSW Rural Assistance Authority -
Natural disaster transport subsidies
Primary producers in affected areas of NSW can apply for up to $15,000 to transport stock, water or fodder.
NSW Rural Assistance Authority -
Hardship assistance from banks
Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.
Australian Banking Association -
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief. They can also help with your insurance policy and claims.
Small Business Debt Helpline -
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation -
Workplace rights and responsibilities
Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the flooding.
Fair Work Ombudsman
March and April 2025 Western Queensland flooding
Queensland
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Disaster Recovery Allowance
Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the floods in Western Queensland.
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Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants
Grants to help your business with the cost of cleaning up and repairs.
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Disaster Assistance Loans
Low-interest loans to help your business get back on track after flood damage.
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Essential Working Capital Loans
Low-interest loans to cover salaries, rent, rates and other essential expenses.
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Support for agribusiness
Queensland Government advice and support for farmers and primary producers impacted by the floods.
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Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
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Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the floods, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
March 2025 Cyclone Alfred
New South Wales
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Disaster Recovery Allowance
A short-term payment if you've lost income as a direct result of the cyclone.
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Natural disaster relief loans
Low interest loans of up to $130,000 are available to help small businesses and primary producers recover from Cyclone Alfred.
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Natural disaster transport subsidies
Primary producers in affected areas of NSW can apply for up to $15,000 to transport stock, water or fodder.
-
Hardship assistance from banks
Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the cyclone, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
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Workplace rights and responsibilities
Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the cyclone.
Queensland
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Disaster Recovery Allowance
A short-term payment if you've lost income as a direct result of the cyclone.
-
Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants
Grants to help your business with the cost of cleaning up and repairs.
-
Disaster Assistance Loans
Low-interest loans to help your business get back on track after cyclone damage.
-
Essential Working Capital Loans
Low-interest loans to cover salaries, rent, rates and other essential expenses.
-
Hardship assistance from banks
Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the cyclone, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
-
Workplace rights and responsibilities
Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the cyclone.
January and February 2025 North Queensland flooding
Queensland
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Small Business Recovery Assistance Grant Program
Small businesses may be eligible for up to $15,000 to re-establish business operations after the floods.
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Disaster Recovery Allowance
Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the flooding in North Queensland.
-
Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants
Grants to help your business with the cost of cleaning up and repairs.
-
Disaster Assistance Loans
Concessional Queensland Government loans to help your business get back on track after a disaster.
-
Support for agribusiness
Queensland Government support for farmers and primary producers impacted by the floods.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the floods, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
January 2025 NSW severe weather and storms
New South Wales
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NSW Government support
Grants, loans and other assistance for businesses affected by the storms from 15 January 2025.
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Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the storms, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
December 2024 Western Victoria bushfires
Victoria
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Disaster Recovery Allowance
Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of Bushfires in Western Victoria that started in December 2024.
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Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
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Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for for small businesses during bushfire.
April 2024 NSW East Coast flooding
New South Wales
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Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.
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Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the floods, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
March 2024 Tropical Cyclone Megan
Northern Territory
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Freight Subsidy Disaster Assistance
If you're a primary producer, you may be able to apply for freight subsidy disaster assistance.
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Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.
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Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by Tropical Cylone Megan, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.
January 2024 heavy rainfall and flooding in Moreton Bay
South East Queensland
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Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
First Nation organisations impacted by severe storms may be eligible to apply for funds up to $20,000 from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
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Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
January 2024 Tropical Cyclone Kirrily
North Queensland
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Queensland natural disaster assistance
Access financial assistance and support services if your Queensland business has been affected.
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Support for primary producers
Find assistance available to primary producers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.
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Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.
-
Support from banks
Your bank may be able to provide support such as deferral of loan repayments or additional finance.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
First Nation organisations impacted by Tropical Cyclone Kirrily may be eligible to apply for funds up to $20,000 from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
December 2023 to January 2024 South East Queensland severe storms and flooding
South East Queensland
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Queensland natural disaster assistance
Access financial assistance and support services if your Queensland business has been affected.
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Support for primary producers
Find assistance available to primary producers impacted by severe storms.
-
Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
First Nation organisations impacted by severe storms may be eligible to apply for funds up to $20,000 from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
December 2023 Tropical Cyclone Jasper
North Queensland
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Queensland natural disaster assistance
Access financial assistance and support services if your Queensland business has been affected.
-
Support for primary producers
Find assistance available to primary producers impacted by Queensland Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
-
Support with your taxes
The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.
-
Support from banks
Your bank may be able to provide support such as deferral of loan repayments or additional finance.
-
Small Business Debt Helpline
Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
-
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants
First Nation organisations impacted by Cyclone Jasper in far North Queensland, are eligible to apply for funds up to $20,000 from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.