In North Queensland, the rain is slowly starting to ease and flood waters are subsiding which means the a mammoth clean-up effort is imminent. 

The Federal Government has announced this morning that disaster loans have been activated for flood-affected farmers, small businesses and not-for-profits, but they will have to pay interest.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Jenny McAllister told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, “It’s a really modest rate of interest, it’s usually around two per cent.”

Peter Fegan has slammed the government charging struggling farmers interest saying, “Australia sends $5 billion of our money overseas to help other countries, when right here there are farmers doing it tough… and we’re going to lend them $250,000? We should be giving them $250,000.”

Hear more highlights from Peter Fegan below:

Image:Ergon Energy Network/9News

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