{"id":219192,"date":"2018-09-25T12:32:01","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T02:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=219192"},"modified":"2018-12-23T12:32:55","modified_gmt":"2018-12-23T02:32:55","slug":"boost-in-drought-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/09\/25\/boost-in-drought-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"Boost In Drought Aid"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (Photo: Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 25, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a boost in drought assistance from the Queensland Drought Appeal.<\/p>\n

Payments were originally capped at $5000 per family but have now been lifted to $7500 as the appeal tally climbs above $2.8 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody knows there are families out there doing it incredibly tough,\u201d Premier Palaszczuk said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we need to do more.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust last week our Parliament House fundraiser collected $120,000. We\u2019re so close to $3 million. Come on Queensland! We can do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington called on the Premier to lift the $5000 cap in a letter on September 19.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Although the QCWA is doing an incredible job at distributing the funds received in the Appeal, for many regional families and businesses the $5000 available for them to request is a drop in the ocean to the many thousands of dollars in bills and expenses they are struggling with every day, ” Mrs Frecklington wrote.<\/p>\n

“With this in mind, I am writing to you today to request that you review the $5000 cap on requests for financial assistance.<\/p>\n

“In many cases, QCWA\u2019s hands are tied by this cap and they are unable to offer further assistance when more is clearly needed, I ask that you consider this issue and act swiftly to ensure that QCWA is able to continue its incredible work and help our regional communities in this time of need.”<\/p>\n

Country Women\u2019s Association President Joy Coulson welcomed the boost in assistance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAn increase will help process applications where exceptional circumstances would warrant higher funds granted to a particular applicant,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Queensland Drought Appeal was launched in August.<\/p>\n