After initially rejecting the application, the National Rural Advisory Council yesterday recommended the Federal Government provide EC payments to Gulf graziers.

The Federal Government has accepted the recommendation, which followed an application from the Queensland Government for assistance to farmers impacted by the floods and subsequent drought.

NRAC found the initial area covered by the application did not meet the criteria for assistance.

However, following a request from Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, the Queensland Government submitted a revised application and the NRAC recommended it be approved.

“The Rudd Government is committed to supporting farmers through what are some of the toughest working conditions of their lives,” Mr Burke said.

“Before the February flood waters receded, I visited Cloncurry and Normanton with the Member for Kennedy Bob Katter.

“I was told then by the locals that when the waters receded, it would look more like a drought than a flood-affected region – and they were right.

“The extraordinary situation in the Gulf was that the flood water didn’t recede for around eight weeks, which destroyed native vegetation.

“Normally, the ground is able to bounce back, however in this instance when the water did recede all the seeds were washed away.

“The declaration was granted as a result of the drought that followed the flood, not the flood itself.”

EC assistance has been made available until 15 June 2011.

The EC assistance comes on top of the assistance measures provided to producers in the area at the time of the flooding through the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said prolonged inundation caused by Tropical Cyclone Charlotte in early 2009 destroyed pastures over tens of thousands of kilometres.

"The combination of heavy stock losses, particularly recently born calves and the destruction of pasture mean that local producer incomes will be severely impacted for years to come," Mr Mulherin said.

"Queensland Government pasture scientists believe that the seed beds on the clay plains of the northern gulf country may have been destroyed, further delaying recovery.

* A map of the Gulf region which has been declared EC is available at the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry website.