BRISBANE, Queensland, March 28 -- The Queensland Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers

The Honourable Ann Leahy

Disaster loans and hardship grants activated in response to western Queensland floods

* Loans and freight subsidies for primary producers in nine flood affected western Queensland council areas. * Personal Hardship Assistance for Barcoo, Bulloo, Quilpie and Winton residents to cover emergency essentials and other household impacts. * Support is through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The Australian and Queensland Governments are activating concessional loans and freight subsidi...