North West Queensland unites against federal disaster funding changes
Media statement - 24 July 2026
North West Queensland leaders have ramped up their opposition to the federal government’s proposed disaster funding cuts hosting a Disaster Funding and Agricultural Round Table in Julia Creek last week.
Joining the group and local producers at the table were Minister for Disaster Recovery, Ann Leahy, Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett, Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Sean Dillon, Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, AgForce President, Shane McCarthy, Queensland Farmers’ Federation President, Aaron Kiely, and Queensland Reconstruction Authority, CEO Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd).
NWQROC Chair and Etheridge Shire Mayor Barry Hughes said the reforms would have significant consequences for regional communities and the industries they support.
“There’s more than bitumen at risk with these changes and we appreciated the opportunity to raise these issues directly with the Queensland Government and strengthen partnerships supporting the region’s recovery, resilience and productivity.
“North West’s resource and agricultural industries alone pump billions into the economy and rely on councils being able to quickly restore the roads and infrastructure,” Cr Hughes said.
“Changes that risk local and national economic stability and shift multi-million-dollar recovery costs onto small communities is unrealistic, unworkable and unacceptable.”
“Reducing the Federal contribution from 75 per cent to 50 per cent would leave a 15 per cent funding gap that our councils simply do not have the capacity to cover.”
Applied to Croydon Shire’s 2024–25 disaster recovery program, the proposed model would have resulted in a shortfall of around $6.6 million – an equivalent to approximately $22,000 for each of its 300 rateable properties. For Aboriginal shires with no traditional rate base, and other small councils with limited budgets, any shortfall could require funding to be redirected from already stretched budgets.
NWQROC Deputy Chair and McKinlay Shire Mayor Janene Fegan said the proposed changes came as another blow in a year of repeat flooding events and the Federal Government’s earlier decision to not support a restocking package.
“These decisions just highlight a complete lack of understanding of the realities on the ground - funding gaps mean roads stay damaged longer, betterment works are scaled back, and communities remain cut off and exposed when the next event comes,” Cr Fegan said.
The group welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of its Unlocking Farming Systems for North Queensland project a this week - opening further pathways for the region to support Primary Industries Prosper 2050 and unlock new investment and employment opportunities.
Cr Fegan said agricultural growth depended on reliable infrastructure and practical disaster recovery arrangements.
“We cannot unlock the North West’s full potential without protecting the roads, infrastructure and supply chains that support our communities and industries,” she said.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Queensland Government as we advocate for disaster funding arrangements that recognise the exposure, infrastructure responsibilities and limited financial capacity of regional and remote councils.
