2020 Bushfires in Australia

Table of Contents

Australia is impacted by massive bushfires with record-breaking temperatures. Since October 2019, there are more than 350 homes were destroyed by bushfires in VIC, 1,500 homes in NSW, 85 homes in SA and 10 homes in QLD. Meanwhile, there are 28 people were killed including 5 people in VIC and 23 people in NSW.

Bushfires Affected area

Below is a map of bushfires affected areas in Australia

Australia Bushfire Relief Package

Many companies are offering financial relief for their customers affected by the bushfire across Australia. Here is the table of some of companies who are offering financial relief for their bushfire affected customers.
  • Affected customers with Westpac home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months. Affected Westpac customers with Home and Contents insurance may be eligible to receive assistance including emergency funds and temporary accommodation.
  • Grants of up to $2000 can be accessed to help cover temporary accommodation, food and clothing.
  • For Deposit Accounts: 1. Waiving of all transaction fees for up to three months. 2. Waiving of debit card replacement fees. 3. Waiving of term deposit break costs. 4. Waiving of dishonour fees
  • For IMB loans: for members experiencing financial hardship may be offered restructuring of loans and suspending payments for a period of time temporary reduction of deferral of repayment
  • Affected customers with St.George home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months.
  • Affected businesses with existing loans can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank establishment fees.
  • Affected credit card customers may apply to defer repayments to their card for up to 90 days.
  • Customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee.
  • St.George will waive interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits.
  • Affected St.George customers with Home and Contents insurance may be eligible to receive assistance including emergency funds and temporary accommodation. Contact us to find out if you are eligible or to make a claim
  • Customers experiencing severe hardship may also be offered a halt on all interest accrual on unsecured credit products for a period of up to three months.
  • Affected business customers with merchant facilities are eligible to receive assistance including monthly terminal access fee waivers for up to three months.
Bank deposits – waiving certain fees for customers requiring urgent access to their funds Home loans – temporarily postponing payments or making other arrangements based on your circumstances Super – if the ATO has assessed that you’re eligible on compassionate grounds, releasing your super early to help with medical and other expenses Pensions – allowing faster access to pension payments Insurance – a one-off three-month waiver from paying AMP life, total and permanent disability, trauma, income protection and business expenses insurance premiums
  • Emergency accommodation assistance for CommInsure customers whose homes have been damaged by bushfire, flood or storms.
  • Expediting claims to CommInsure for customers seeking help through their home, contents and car insurance.
  • Customised assistance for Commonwealth Bank home loan, credit card and personal loan customers who may experience difficulties because of the bushfire, flood or storms.
  • Considering requests for additional loans including emergency credit limit increases (subject to credit approval).
  • Loan restructuring for business customers with existing loans.
  • Waiving prepayment charges for the month following the event, for affected customers wishing to access term deposits and Commonwealth Investment Bonds ahead of the maturity date.
  • Waiving other selected fees and charges.
  • financial assistance package for customers
  • measures to support impacted employees
  • funding for organisations involved in emergency relief – for example direct donations and matching of staff fundraising
  • medium to long-term natural disaster recovery grants administered by Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
  • mobilising ANZ volunteers to assist with community rebuilding
  • financial advice and planning for recovering local businesses.
  • $2,000 grants to help restart or reopen and cover the cost of damaged property, equipment, fencing – and for loss of stock or livestock. Up to a three-year deferral of interest and repayments for existing NAB loans where individual circumstances warrant
  • A commitment not to foreclose upon, or force the sale of existing loans for up to three years
  • $1 billion in concessional loans to customers seeking support to restructure existing facilities to assist in repairs, restocking and re-opening for business
  • Support and counselling by making NAB’s Employee Assistance Program available to customers.
Relief from interest charges for three months and a loan repayment holiday for up to 12 months
Deferring scheduled loan repayments, waiving costs associated with withdrawing farm management deposits early, increasing loans for rebuilding operations, and variations to equipment finance.
Home loan and business loan relief for up to three months, emergency credit card limit increases, discounted rates on new personal loans, and no rate reductions for early term deposit withdrawals
  • Affected customers with Bank of Melbourne home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to 3 months
  • Affected businesses can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank fees such as establishment fees and break costs
  • Customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee
  • Bank of Melbourne may waive interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits, and
  • Affected Bank of Melbourne customers with Home and Contents insurance may be eligible to receive assistance under the terms of their insurance policies for emergency accommodation.
  • Interest-free loans of up to $5000.
  • The ability to defer loan and credit card repayments.
  • Credit card customers can apply for an emergency credit card limit increase.
  • Waiver of interest rate reduction for term deposit withdrawals prior to maturity.
  • Waiver of other fees and charges that are derived as a result of the bushfires.
  • Affected customers with BankSA home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months.
  • Affected businesses with existing loans can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank establishment fees.
  • Affected credit card customers may apply to defer repayments to their card for up to 90 days.
  • Customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee.
  • BankSA will waive interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits.
  • Affected BankSA customers with Home and Contents insurance may be eligible to receive assistance including emergency funds and temporary accommodation. Contact us to find out if you are eligible or to make a claim
  • Customers experiencing severe hardship may also be offered a halt on all interest accrual on unsecured credit products for a period of up to three months.
  • Affected business customers with merchant facilities are eligible to receive assistance including monthly terminal access fee waivers for up to three months.
  • Deferring repayments of up to three months on loans
  • Waiving fees and charges associated with early redemptions on term deposits
Access funds in term deposits without impacting the interest rate payableRedraw funds from an applicable home loan at a branch without fees (customers are already able to redraw fee-free via internet banking)Negotiate changes to scheduled loan repayments via our Hardship program
  • Hardship provisions to help impacted customers through their situation.
  • Waiving fees associated with the restructuring of loans needed because of bushfire impacts.
  • Waiving or refunding fees incurred because bushfire impacts have made it impossible for customers to comply with the requirements of their accounts, for example, missed payments.
  • Early redemption on Term Deposits and Farm Deposit Management accounts for customers impacted by bushfires, without fees or penalties.
  • Assisting customers who have lost homes or vehicles and are insured through Allianz by fast-tracking their claims and escalating calls to a bushfire specific claims officer if needed.
Changes to repayment terms for home loans, credit cards and car loans reassessment of loan terms for our business banking clients waiving certain fees or restrictions that may apply to our products.
Six months of premium relief for eligible Bupa Health Insurance customers*; Selected dental and optical services** for eligible Bupa customers from Bupa Optical and Bupa-owned dental practices;
waive the premiums for up to three months or suspend the policy for up to two years.
waive the premiums for up to three months or suspend the policy for up to two years.
  • For customer: We can provide assistance, applying credits and waiving charges on your account in applicable circumstances
  • For supporting volunteer firefighters and SES volunteers: we are offering a $150 credit (including GST) per customer on their electricity or gas bills – residential and small business.
  • Billing credits for non-usage of service
  • Waiver of cancellation fees (for severe damage or loss)
  • Free replacement and delivery for damaged modems
  • Waiver of standard connection fee at your original address or re-connection at new address up to $240 Inc. GST (excludes cabling and trenching)
  • Waiver of late payment fees
  • Mobile monthly base fee waived for January and February for emergency service volunteers
  • Supporting customers who have lost their homes or small businesses because of the fires by waiving monies owing on their accounts.
  • Offering re-connections free of charge when customers who have lost their homes start to re-build.
  • Doubling the number of days of paid leave for employees who are emergency response volunteers, including firefighters.

Leave Your Comments

Share Your Thoughts

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Feedback

We value your input! Please take a moment to share your feedback with us. Your thoughts help us enhance your experience.

Leave Your Review

Would you mind taking just 5 minutes to share your thoughts about your ISP/Mobile Carrier? Your insights can greatly assist others in making informed choices.

Error Report