Bushfire Recovery & Emergency Assistance Grants

Announcements from Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain, Tasmanian Government and the Commonwealth Government detail the activation of various financial grants and clean-up programs funded through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for residents impacted by the East Coast bushfires this month.

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 10 December 2025

Dolphin Sands Clean-Up Program

Support for the residents impacted by the Dolphin Sands bushfire on Tasmania’s East Coast is being delivered through a Clean Up Program.

This assistance has been made under the joint Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the Dolphin Sands community has suffered the biggest loss of property since the Dunalley bushfires.

“The impact and devastation caused by the recent bushfires to the Dolphin Sands community is significant, with 33 properties destroyed or damaged,” Rockliff said.

“This is a confronting and challenging time for the community, particularly in the lead up to Christmas.”

Specialist engineering and environmental consultancy Pitt and Sherry is being engaged to undertake safety and hazard assessments and coordinate a contractor to clean-up properties impacted by the bushfire.

The safety and hazard assessments will help plan the clean-up program.

“Our Clean-up Program will help keep residents safe and further ease the financial burden of these losses for property owners and residents.” Rockliff said.

The impact of the bushfire has created a large amount of fire debris and hazardous waste including remnants of buildings, vehicles and other infrastructure across a large part of Dolphin Sands.

In the coming days, property owners will be contacted by the Tasmanian Government to seek permission for Pitt and Sherry to undertake the safety and hazard assessments.

More information on the Clean-Up Program, including timeframes, will be provided as soon as it’s available.

You can find information and updates about the Clean-Up Program at www.TasRECOVERY.com

The website also has information to help with recovery including financial assistance and keeping yourself safe when returning to your property after a bushfire.

For current bushfire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit www.tasalert.com

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier & Kristy McBain, Federal Minister for Emergency Management, 10 December 2025

Emergency grants available for residents impacted by the Break O’Day bushfires

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments have activated Emergency Assistance Grants for impacted residents in specific areas of Break O’Day LGA who have been displaced due to bushfires.

This activation has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

These grants are available to people in the St Helens, Stieglitz and Akaroa areas who have had to evacuate or have become isolated due to the bushfires, helping eligible individuals by contributing to the cost of obtaining essential and appropriate shelter, food, transport and personal items.

Grant funds available are:

• $250 per adult (over 18 years);
• $125 per dependent child (under 18 years); and
• a maximum of $1,000 for any one family.

Financial support is also being provided by the Albanese and Rockliff Governments to assist state agencies and councils with the costs associated with counter disaster operations to protect communities and essential assets.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that the past week had been devastating for multiple communities across Tasmania’s East Coast.

“Today, we are activating emergency assistance grants for residents of St Helens and surrounding areas, ensuring people who have been displaced due to the bushfires can get immediate support,” Rockliff said.

“In tough times Tasmanians come together, and I want to thank all of our emergency services, our volunteers and those who are helping keep our community safe.

“Once again, the conditions were extremely challenging yesterday.

“I want to acknowledge the Federal Government for working with us to deliver support to Tasmanians in bushfire-affected communities.

“For updates, download the TasALERT App or visit the TasALERT.com website. Both the app and the website can send you notifications when there are important alerts in areas that concern you.”

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the Albanese Government continued to support Tasmanian communities during times of emergencies.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to ensuring Tasmanians impacted by these bushfires can receive some financial relief as soon as possible,” McBain said.

“Alongside these grants for residents, we’re working with the state government to ensure firefighters and disaster response teams have what they need to protect local communities.

“This is a dynamic and dangerous situation, so I ask that Tasmanians continue to listen to warnings by emergency services and prepare to act on their advice.”

Applications for Emergency Assistance Grants can be made online via Department of Premier and Cabinet – Community Grants.

For more information, members of the public can visit the TasRECOVERY.com website.

For further information and updates, visit the following websites:

• https://www.tasalert.com for current warnings and advice
• https://bushfire.tas.gov.au/ for advice on how to prepare and plan
• http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/warnings/ for the latest weather forecast and warnings
• https://www.police.tas.gov.au/community-alerts/ for road closures
• https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/know-before-you-go/alerts for parks closures

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier & Kristy McBain, Federal Minister for Emergency Management, 10 December 2025

Additional bushfire emergency grants and assistance available for the Dolphin Sands community

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments have activated additional emergency grants for residents affected by the Dolphin Sands bushfire on Tasmania’s East Coast.

These grants and assistance have been made under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The new grants are intended to support the medium to longer term needs of low-income households whose principal place of residence have been impacted by the bushfire and households that have experienced prolonged power outages.

The grants include:

• Temporary Living Expenses Grants of up to $11,650 per household for households unable to reside in their principal place of residence.
• Replacement of Household Items Grants of up to $11,650 per household for households that have incurred substantial loss of essential personal household items.
• Repair and Restoration Grants of up to $11,650 per household for households that have incurred substantial property damage.
• Essential Services Outage Grants for households that are subject to power outages of five days or more.

In addition, both levels of government will jointly fund clean-up assistance for the removal of debris from residential properties to make them safe and habitable.

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are also providing disaster assistance to the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, helping them recover from the bushfire impacts.

This disaster assistance enables council to help community members facing personal hardship and distress as a result of the fires.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff visited the Dolphin Sands community on Tuesday, inspecting the fireground and the devastating damage.

“My heart goes out to residents who have lost homes, shacks and other property to the bushfires,” Rockliff said.

“Today, we are announcing a number of grants to further support Tasmanians as they enter the recovery phase.

“These grants will support Tasmanians who have suffered a great loss due to the bushfires.

“I want to thank the Federal Government for working with us to deliver much-needed support to Tasmanians impacted by the bushfires.”

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the Dolphin Sands community has been through an incredibly challenging time, and it was a priority to ensure people have the support they need to get back on their feet and start rebuilding their lives.

“We know that losing access to your home or essential household items can be devastating, and these grants are designed to ease some of that burden and help families focus on recovery,” McBain said.

“This assistance is about more than just financial support. It’s about giving people confidence that they’re not facing this alone, and that both the Albanese and Rockliff Governments are standing with them every step of the way.

“I want to acknowledge the incredible efforts of emergency services and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to protect lives and property, and assure the community that we’ll keep working together to provide the help that’s needed now and into the future.”

To stay up to date with warnings and alerts, Tasmanians should download TasALERT App or visit the TasALERT.com.

Applications for the grants can be made at www.service.tas.gov.au/community-grants

For current bushfire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit www.tasalert.com

For further information and updates about the southern Tasmanian bushfires, visit:

• www.tasalert.com for current warnings and advice
• www.tasrecovery.com for recovery information
• www.bushfire.tas.gov.au for advice on how to prepare and plan for a bushfire
• www.bom.gov.au/tas/warnings for the latest weather forecast and warnings
• www.police.tas.gov.au/community-alerts for road closures
• www.parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/know-before-you-go/alerts for parks closures

Image courtesy Tasmanian Fire Service.