ANTHONY ALBANESE MP
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

RICHARD MARLES MP
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE

KRISTY MCBAIN MP
MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 

The Albanese Government is standing with communities impacted by devastating floods in the Hunter and Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, with further support activated to help people get back on their feet.

From Tuesday 27th May, Australian Defence Force personnel alongside members of Disaster Relief Australia will be deployed to support New South Wales authorities with clearance, clean up and early recovery operations.

Coordinated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), they will join emergency services personnel on the ground from ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New Zealand.

Disaster Relief Australia will also help residents with clean-up efforts and damage assessments.

The Albanese Government continues to work with all levels of government to help with any requests for assistance that come from New South Wales, and as damage assessments are undertaken across the Hunter and Mid North Coast, will work to quickly activate support where it is needed.

Jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements have been activated for 19 Local Government Areas – administered by New South Wales, including support for emergency accommodation and essential items, help for small businesses and councils to repair damages, and support for our primary producers.

Jointly funded Personal Hardship Payments – administered by New South Wales, will also be available to cover essentials including food, clothing and medicines.

On top of this, applications for the Commonwealth’s Disaster Recovery Allowance open at 2:00pm today for an initial four Local Government Areas – Kempsey, Port-Macquarie Hastings, Mid-Coast and Dungog.

Administered by Services Australia, this provides up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers that have had their regular employment impacted.

A Community Recovery Support Fund, jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments, will also be made available to support councils with immediate clean up and restorations once impacts are known.

For New South Wales administered support, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/floods/recover

For Commonwealth administered support, visit: servicesaustralia.gov.au/disastersupport

As at 26 May, 2025.