March 11, 2021

Cyclone Recovery Meeting

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) is holding a meeting on cyclone recovery for growers impacted at 1.00pm on Tuesday 16 March at DAF South Johnstone – large conference room.

The meeting will be hosted by ABGC’s Stephen Lowe (Chair) and Jim Pekin (CEO).  It will include presentations from:

• Sam Spina, Qld Rural and Industry Development Authority on “Explaining Assistance”
• Nick Birchley, Farm Financial Counsellor on “Help with Applications for Assistance”
• Stewart Lindsay, DAF Extension Horticulturalist on “Agronomic Consideration for Cyclone Recovery”

There will be opportunity for growers to raise questions on these and other related matters.

Disaster Assistance

On Monday 8 March, the Queensland Government announced disaster assistance for primary producers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Niran.

The Government announcement said growers can access concessional loans of up to $250,000 to repair or replace damaged buildings or equipment affected by TC Niran and also that subsidies up to $5000 are also available to assist with the freight costs of moving livestock, crops, fodder and farm equipment.

This financial assistance is being provided through Category B of the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is for impacted primary producers in Cassowary Coast, Cairns, Hinchinbrook, Mareeba and Tablelands.

It means that Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) applications are no longer valid, for those growers who completed them, because they are now eligible under the Category B assistance.

For more information on this – visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or free call 1800 623 946

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council ABGC has written to both Queensland and Australian Ministers of Agriculture requesting Category C – Special Disaster Assistance Recover Grants of $25,000 to assist growers with clean-up costs and getting crops back into production.

It has also asked both Ministers for wage subsidy assistance to assist growers to retain workers.

Contact Details
It is important that ABGC is advised if you know of growers who are not receiving these e-bulletins or the Australian Banana magazine. We may have out of date email or postal addresses for these growers. Please email any updated contact details to: info@abgc.org.au

Also, it is important for membership purposes that growers advise ABGC if they change trading name or their agent (wholesaler) or add one, and also to let their agent know.