{"id":29294,"date":"2013-04-05T21:57:04","date_gmt":"2013-04-05T11:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=29294"},"modified":"2020-09-23T18:16:21","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T08:16:21","slug":"ag-groups-get-flood-recovery-officers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/04\/05\/ag-groups-get-flood-recovery-officers\/","title":{"rendered":"Ag Groups Get Flood Recovery Officers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Natural Resources Minister
Andrew Cripps<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 5, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Queensland Farmers Federation is partnering with industry groups and the State and Federal governments to deploy Industry Recovery Officers on the ground to assist farmers with flood recovery.<\/p>\n

Acting Agriculture Minister Andrew Cripps said today the $1.5 million program would embed Industry Recovery Officers within industry organisations in the areas most severely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald (ie the Australia Day weekend floods).<\/p>\n

\u201cFive officers will be based in the Bundaberg and Burnett region, six in south-east Queensland, two on the Darling Downs, and one in both Emerald and St George,” Mr Cripps said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be their job to work with their specific industry sectors to act as a point of contact as flood recovery progresses and producers get their enterprises running again.<\/p>\n

QFF CEO Dan Galligan said the principal theme of the project was quick and sustained recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndustries and regions will recover more quickly if every farmer can access appropriate assistance measures as quickly as possible,\u201d Mr Galligan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cQFF will draw on experience gained from previous disasters to ensure the IROs are based in, and supported by, industry organisations and they are appropriately trained to deliver services that best support a quick and sustained recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe primary role of IROs is to help affected farmers and small businesses access the full range of government support and other assistance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIROs will refer people who need additional support to other professionals such as financial counsellors, mental health professionals and farming systems technical advisers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the longer term, IROs will assist farmers, communities and industry groups to develop practical recovery plans that incorporate sound risk management strategies, including insurance and greater preparedness and planning capabilities.”<\/p>\n

The IROs are being deployed in partnership with Canegrowers, Cotton Australia, Growcom, AgForce, the Queensland Dairyfarmers\u2019 Organisation, and Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland.<\/p>\n