Drought Assistance Package – Drought Rebates and Fee Relief

This program aims to provide advice and assistance on a range of issues impacting Queenslanders in drought declared area.

Assistance available are:
- Water fee relief: The department is waiving certain water fees in local government areas that are drought declared.
- Annual water license fees: Annual water licence fees will be waived every financial year while the drought declaration is in place. Affected landholders will be advised of the waiver by letter. The waiver is extended for another two years. Water users in drought declared and disaster-affected areas will continue to be exempt from these fees in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
- Land rent rebate: Holders of rural leases (Category 11 leases used for grazing and primary production) issued under Queensland’s Land Act 1994 are eligible for a rebate of 18% of their annual rent where that annual rent is more than $272 (excluding GST). Extra land rent relief for drought affected farmers is available. Queensland farmers and businesses will have an extra year before having to pay their state land rent, and half could also receive a discount.
- Land rent deferral: Payment date for all Category 11 drought declared invoices for the 2020-21 financial year has been extended until 30 June 2020. No penalty interest will accrue on overdue balances during the 2020-21 financial year.

Eligible applicants include landholders in drought declared areas.

For Land Rent Rebate, eligible applicants include producers who hold leases in drought-declared areas and to those who have an individually droughted property (IDP).