I was away when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced his response to the North West Queensland flood disaster, a package of measures worth $2 billion aimed at getting a stricken industry - and the region that relies on it - back on its feet.
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A key plank of the response was the establishment of the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency.
The Agency will be led by barrister Shane Stone and report directly to the PM. Mr Stone will be supported by an advisory board with representatives of the northern cattle industry and local councils.
The Agency will deliver the long term plan for reconstructing the industry and help with seed funding for fixing on-farm infrastructure like fences and water infrastructure and for restocking.
It will provide advice to the Prime Minister on how Commonwealth policies and programs can best contribute to the reconstruction.
Mr Morrison said the agency would develop a long term plan to help rebuild the industry, which would include new programs that will provide access to seed funding to rebuild on-farm infrastructure and restock herds.
However some of the detail remains patchy though Mr Morrison said that was because each farm was different and would need different assistance to rebuild.
"This is about farmers telling us what they need. They need to be the ones calling the shots," he said. “Whether it be through restocking grants, concessional loans or mental health support, we are stepping up to the plate and pitching in."
The government is also changing the Regional Investment Corporation's mandate to allow it to develop concessional loan products for farmers. This will see farmers refinance existing debt as well as access to loans for restocking using the stock as collateral.
The government has written to lending institutions asking them to not foreclose or force sales for three years, defer interest and principal repayments where appropriate for up to three years, and commit to continue lending for stock and herd replacement, supported by grants from the Commonwealth government and with security over the stock rather than the family home.