Joint letter to PM re refusal to fund restocking for flood-affected NW Queensland producers

19 May 2026

The Hon Anthony Albanese

Prime Minister

PO Box 6022

House of Representatives

Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

By contact portal: https://www.pm.gov.au/contact

Dear Prime Minister,

RE: Restocking, replanting and on-farm infrastructure grants for flood-impacted NWQ primary producers

We write to seek your reconsideration of a decision not to fund a restocking, replanting and on-farm infrastructure grant for North West Queensland primary producers within your support package for communities impacted by the North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji Severe Weather event.

While we appreciate the support provided by the Federal and Queensland Government through the Disaster Recovery Financial Arrangements to help communities in the North West and Central West recover from the floods, we have been left devastated by the decision not to support the Queensland Government application for a restocking, replanting and on-farm infrastructure grant as part of the funding package.

The North West region is a vital beef, broadacre cropping and emerging horticulture region that continues to recover from this event, and such support is critical to not only supporting these industries to get back on the feet but also the local businesses who rely on them.

It is difficult to understand why a decision has been made not to provide such support following this disaster event, given the precedence that has been set following previous disasters.

In addition to this year flooding impacts, the region’s cattle industry is also navigating other global events including rising fuel and input prices, meaning the decision not to fund this assistance will be felt more acutely.

So critical is this ask that we have joined together to request a meeting with you and your Ministers to discuss:

1) The Federal Government reconsideration of the Queensland Government application for a restocking, replanting and on-farm infrastructure grant for North West Queensland

2) Support for an Agricultural Summit to be held in the North West to bring the region together and plan to become more resilient in the face of future disasters.

To arrange a meeting, your office can contact North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils Executive Officer Joshua Dyke on 0473 795 066 or via josh.dyke@nwqroc.com.au or Local Government Association of Queensland Head of Advocacy Sarah Vogler on 0438 447 370 or via sarah_vogler@lgaq.asn.au