Grants and financial assistance

• Concessional loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
• Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants - Regional Events
• Re-establishment Grants up to $10,000 for Bushfire Residents
• Recovery grants for small business
• Recovery grants for primary producers
• Disaster Recovery Allowance
• Disaster Recovery Payment
• Red Cross Emergency Grants
• Yorketown Community Fundraising
• Tax implications
• Tax relief and administration fees waived for those affected

If you need help with financial decisions after a bushfire, visit the moneysmart.gov.au dealing with natural disasters website for advice.

Concessional loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations

A concessional loan of up to $500,000 is available to support eligible businesses to restore and replace assets and property that have been significantly damaged in the fires.

Visit the Supporting Business in South Australia website to learn more about eligibility criteria and to apply.

Phone 1300 142 820
Email DIS.SmallBusiness@sa.gov.au

This loan is provided under the jointly funded Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants - Regional Events

On 11 February 2020, the Government announced the Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants program, a $10 million grants program which has been drawn from the Bushfire Recovery Fund.  The grants program is part of the Government’s $76 million tourism recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping to get tourists travelling into bushfire affected regions.

Austrade will administer the program, which has been developed in consultation with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency.

The Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants program includes two funding streams which together will support events, concerts, festivals and visitor attractions in fire-affected regions to assist with recovery efforts and encourage international and domestic visitors back to the regions.

Stream 1: will support smaller-scale events. You may apply for more than one grant in this stream, up to a total value of $30,000 per applicant. Applications for Stream 1 close 5pm (AEDT) Friday, 20 November 2020.

Stream 2: will support larger events and/or other visitor attractions such as art installations and tourist walks. Funding will take account of bushfire and tourism impacts for different regions. Applications for Stream 2 close 5pm (AEDT) Friday, 20 March 2020.

For more details, see the Austrade website.

Re-establishment Grants up to $10,000 for Bushfire Residents

Eligible South Australians who:

• are uninsured, and
• have had their principal residence (their home) damaged by bushfire

can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to help them re-establish their homes.

The payments can be used to help repair bushfire-damaged homes or replace essential household items.

The payments are available only to those persons who meet the following criteria:

• Their primary residence has been damaged
• They meet an income test
• Their losses are not being met by insurance, compensation or other assistance measures
• They are owner-occupiers (for the structure/dwelling component of the grant)
• They are owner-occupiers or tenants (for the essential household and personal item component of the grant).

Assistance is being provided under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The SA Housing Authority will administer the grants under its Emergency Relief arrangements.

To discuss your eligibility

Visit or phone the Assessment Team at the Lobethal Recovery Centre, 1 Lobethal Road.

Phone 0418 213 269 during Recovery Centre hours. This number is specifically for enquiries about Re-establishment Grants.

Recovery grants for small business

A grant of up to $50,000 is available for eligible small businesses affected by bushfires for costs associated with clean-up, restoration and rebuilding.

The grant is designed to assist with the immediate costs of beginning to rebuild and recover and is provided under the jointly funded Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Visit the Supporting Business in South Australia website to learn more about eligibility criteria and to apply.

Phone the SA Department for Innovation and Skills on 1300 142 820
Email DIS.SmallBusiness@sa.gov.au

Recovery grants for primary producers

A grant of $75,000 is available for eligible primary producers affected by the bushfires.

The grant is designed to assist with the immediate costs of beginning to rebuild and recover and is provided under the jointly funded Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Visit the PIRSA website for eligibility criteria and to apply

Phone the PIRSA Recovery Hotline on 1800 931 314

Disaster Recovery Allowance

The Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment to help you if a declared disaster directly affects your income. It is payable for a maximum of 13 weeks from the date you lose your income.

The Department of Human Services website has more information on the Disaster Recovery Allowance, including eligibility criteria.

Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off payment to help you if a declared disaster significantly affects you.

If you’re eligible you will get $1,000 per adult and $800 for each child under 16 years of age.

The Department of Human Services website has more information on the Disaster Recovery Payment, including eligibility criteria.
Phone 180 22 66

Red Cross Emergency Grants

If your primary place of residence (your home) has been destroyed in a bushfire, you can apply for a Red Cross Emergency Grant.

Grants will be open until 30 April 2020.

Please see the Red Cross website for more information and steps on how to apply.

Yorketown Community Fundraising

Over $60,000 has been raised by the Yorke Peninsula community to support the Yorketown bushfire recovery effort. If you have been impacted by the Yorketown bushfire you may be able to apply for funding.

Applications for categories 1–3 (individual or family) are now open and close on 5 February 2020.

Applications for category 4 (community group) are now open and close on 14 February 2020.

Resources and application forms:

Yorketown Fire Funding FAQ

Yorketown Fire Recovery Funding Eligibility

Application Form Yorketown Fire Funding – Category 1-3 (Individual or Family) (DOCX 50.3 KB)

Application Form Yorketown Fire Funding – Category 4 (Community Group) (DOCX 54.4 KB)

Yorketown Fire Tzu Chi Flyer (PDF 230.1 KB)

Yorketown Fire Tzu Chi Application Form (PDF 73.5 KB)

Tax implications

For income tax implications related to receiving grants, contact the Australian Taxation Office.

Tax relief and administration fees waived for those affected

The SA Government is providing tax relief measures and waiving fees and charges for people affected by the bushfires.

These include:

• Tax relief for the stamp duty payable on the purchase of replacement properties and motor vehicles
• Relief for 2019-2020 and 2020-21 land tax liabilities
• A hold on the Emergency Services Levy debt collection
• Fees waived for replacement drivers licenses and births, deaths and marriage certificates for those who lost them as a result of the fires
• Refund of unexpired registrations for vehicles destroyed by bushfire
• Applications being accepted to waive registration of replacement motor vehicles.