Debbie-affected Qlders to receive $15m

Queenslanders affected by Cyclone Debbie will receive almost $15 million in Category C funding from the state and federal governments.

Floodwaters resulting from ex-cyclone Debbie

Queenslanders affected by Cyclone Debbie will receive almost $15 million in Category C funding. (AAP)

Queensland farmers and small business owners affected by Cyclone Debbie will receive almost $15 million in disaster funding from the federal and state governments.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement about the Category C entitlements on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Turnbull said $14.7 million would be made available to people in the Gold Coast, Isaac, Logan, Mackay, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim and Whitsunday council areas to help address "medium to long-term recovery needs".

Ms Palaszczuk said while steps had been taken to rebuild following the cyclone, many communities were "still facing ongoing hardship and disruption to normal community life".

The funding announcement followed a slanging match between the state government and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce over an apparent delay in getting financial support to affected Queenslanders.

Mr Joyce accused the state government of being "tardy" when lodging its application.

"We are working as hard as we can to make sure that the application is competent, like it should be, so we can get this money flowing," he said on Wednesday.

Mr Joyce repeatedly said the state government had initially sent an insufficient three-page document in comparison with NSW's 45-page effort.

But Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the state submitted its required business cases to the federal government on Friday.


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Source: AAP


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