Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I will deal with that garbled question and outline what this government is doing for small businesses. The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements are designed to alleviate the significant financial burden placed on states and territories, and to facilitate early provision of emergency assistance to a disaster affected community. These arrangements have been in place, not only for this government but also for successive governments, to provide assistance to small business and primary producers. The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements provide concessional loans of up to $250,000 for small business and primary producers. Regarding eligibility criteria, I tell people not to self assess. They should go in and work through those eligibility criteria so that they can access that assistance. It is important that small businesses and primary producers take the opportunity of availing themselves of that. In addition, small businesses and primary producers have up to $25,000 available to them for the immediate clean-up work. This government is providing significant support right across Queensland and other areas that have been significantly affected by this natural disaster that has occurred in Queensland. I add that the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements allow small business to access the New Employment Incentive Scheme as well. (Time expired)