The HMW Office is once again fully operational following our evacuation as a result of the Brisbane floods last week.  Our communication systems have been interrupted since January 12 and we ask that you resend any correspondence emailed or faxed during this time if you are unsure if we have received it.

We would like to extend our sympathies to all whose homes and businesses have been adversely affected by these terrible events.  We hope that you have not suffered a great loss and are able to recover as quickly as possible.

Assistance is being offered by various organisations for those individuals and business impacted during the flood crisis:

Australian Taxation Office

The Australian Taxation Office have implemented an automatic deferral for lodgement and payment of December monthly Activity Statements, which are now due on 21 February 2011.  If you are in an affected area this deferral is automatically applied, therefore no application for an extension is necessary. 

The ATO are also offering emergency support and assistance such as:

• fast tracking refunds

• giving people extra time to pay debts – without interest charges

• giving more time to meet BAS and other lodgement obligations – without penalties.

• helping reconstruct tax records where documents have been destroyed, and make reasonable estimates where necessary

• offering visits from field officers to help reconcile lost records, and

• helping applicants to claim tax hardship concessions.

Office of State Revenue 

The OSR offers assistance so that clients who have been affected by the floods do not have to worry about their tax obligations during this time.  In particular, OSR can assist in the following ways:

• providing extensions of time to lodge documents or returns with the office

• providing extensions of time for amounts to be paid without interest being charged

• arranging for debts to be paid in instalments.

It has also been reported that extensions of up to two months on payment of payroll tax liabilities are available, but this is yet to be confirmed.

Queensland Government

Those affected by the floods can access assistance in the form of financial relief, counselling, business advice, health recommendations, replacement of important documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates) and safety advice.  Current support available includes:

Centrelink: Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is a one-off payment for people who have been adversely affected by disaster.

If you are eligible you will receive:

• $1000 per adult

• $400 for each child (under 16 years of age).

Details regarding eligibility and how to claim at www.centrelink.gov.au or on the Australian Government Emergency Assistance Hotline 180 22 66.

Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA):

Flood Assistance Grants are available from QRAA to assist primary producers and small businesses to pay for costs arising out of direct damage caused by the flood crisis.

If you are eligible you may be entitled to grants of up to $25,000 - payable as $5,000 for immediate early recovery and a subsequent $20,000 to recover costs paid for repairs and damage.

There are also concessional interest rate loans of up to $250,000 available for small business operators and primary producers, as well as freight subsidies of up to $5,000. In addition, QRAA will consider the deferral of repayments on existing loans for an agreed period. Customers holding loans who have not utilised the two year interest only period can request this to assist with current recovery.

Currently processing of claims for immediate recovery is taking approximately 3-4 days. We strongly recommend that you download and complete forms as soon as possible - visit www.qraa.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946 - and send to QRAA.

If you are having problems accessing the forms, please contact QRAA.

Department of Community Services:

Financial Assistance Grants Personal Hardship

Individuals and families who do not have the capacity to meet immediate, unexpected basic costs for food, clothing, medical supplies or accommodation caused by the disaster may be eligible for a non means tested once-off payment of $170 per person, up to a maximum of $850 for a family of five or more.

Essential Household Contents

People who own essential household contents that have been lost or damaged in the disaster and who do not have contents insurance may be eligible for this once-off payment of up to $1,705 per adult, up to a maximum of $5,120 for a couple/family.

Eligible household contents may include cooking utensils, clothing, bedding and linen, floor coverings, essential furniture and white goods and food lost due to storm damage. The grant assists with the repair or replacement of essential items and maximum limits apply for individual items.

An income test will be applied to applications for this grant. If you are eligible, departmental officers will visit your home, to assess the damage and to complete an application form with you.

Structural Assistance

Property owners whose home has been damaged by the disaster may be eligible for this once-off payment of up to $10,500 per individual, and up to $14,200 for a couple/family, less amounts paid as an Emergency Assistance Grant and/or Essential Household Contents Grant.

The home must be uninsured for this disaster event, owned by the applicant and their sole place of residence at the time of the disaster. The grant provides a contribution towards repair of the residence to a habitable and secure condition.

An income and assets test will be applied to applications for this grant. If you are eligible, departmental officers will visit your home to assess the damage and to complete an application form with you.

The income and asset tests for the Essential Household Contents and Structural Assistance grants are as follows:

UPPER INCOME LIMITS	UPPER ASSET LIMITS
• Individuals: $704/week + $51 for each dependent	• Pensioners: $25, 101
• Couples: $903/week + $51 for each dependent	• Other: $6,135

Applications will be assessed on a case by case basis and you will need to discuss your eligibility for these grants with officers from the Department of Communities.

Individuals and families can find out more about applying for these grants by calling 1800 173 349 or visiting www.communities.qld.gov.au

Banks: Provide them with an update of your situation

Many of the banks have indicated that they will support their customers through this hardship via extension of loan payment deadlines and waiving of fees and charges.

Make sure your bank is aware of your current situation and any anticipated disruptions to payment schedules so they can help you through this period.

Lost your identification information?

If you require replacement birth, marriage or change of name certificates lost as a result of flooding, you can obtain replacement copies free of charge until the end of March 2011.

Contact the Registry or Births, Deaths and Marriages on 1300 366 430 or email BDMmail@justice.qld.gov.au  for more information.

Further information on all of the above support options can be found at www.qld.gov.au/floods/support.html 

Office Space 

HMW Partners has 50m² of self contained office space, with fitout, currently available for sublease.  We are currently marketing this space for long-term lease, however will make this available if any businesses require temporary city-based accommodation due to the floods.  Please contact us should you wish to discuss this offer.

Donate

Finally if you, like us, are among the lucky who have escaped the crisis with minimal loss and disruption please donate to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.  Donations can be made online at www.qld.gov.au/donate by telephone on 1800 219 028 or in person at any bank, Australia Post outlet or Coles Supermarket.

If you have goods to donate, such as household items or articles of clothing, please register on www.givit.org.au