NWQROC lodges submission opposing proposed Disaster Management Reforms
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) has lodged a formal submission to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) strongly opposing the Federal Government’s proposed Disaster Management Reforms, warning that the changes would leave remote communities exposed, delay recovery, and shift millions of dollars in additional costs onto councils and primary industries.
“These reforms are unacceptable.
They shift costs onto the very communities that can least afford it, weaken recovery capability, and ignore the fact that remote councils already operate at the edge of financial sustainability.”
- Mayor Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair
NWQROC’s submission highlights that the proposed Disaster Recovery Funding Framework (DRFF) would significantly reduce national capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. As outlined in the submission, the reforms would result in “roads being cut for longer, communities recovering for longer, and the closure of nationally defining industries.”
NWQROC Chair and Mayor of Etheridge Shire Council, Cr Barry Hughes, said the reforms fail to recognise the realities of disaster response in rural and remote Queensland.
“These reforms are unacceptable. They shift costs onto the very communities that can least afford it, weaken recovery capability, and ignore the fact that remote councils already operate at the edge of financial sustainability. North West Queensland is an economic powerhouse – yet these proposals would leave our communities and industries more vulnerable, not less.” Cr Hughes said.
The submission warns that the proposed 50:50 cost sharing model would reduce the Federal Government’s contribution to disaster funding by at least 14% in Queensland. Had this been applied to funding received by the region’s councils since DRFA started in 2018, it would equate to a $276.8 million cost shift onto North West Queensland communities.
NWQROC also strongly opposes the proposed increase to Queensland’s disaster activation threshold from $240,000 to $2.7 million, and the proposed Resilient Infrastructure Scheme – which, of the 750 Queensland betterment projects funded over the past 15 years, only 1% of betterment projects would have been approved under the proposal.
NWQROC Chief Executive Officer, Josh Dyke, said the NWQROC, and its 12 member councils, are urging the Federal Government to re-engage with all levels of government to ensure that the reforms are fit-for-purpose.
“North West Queensland councils experience some of the nation’s most severe and frequent disaster events. Any reform must strengthen, not weaken, the ability of councils to protect their communities, industries and critical infrastructure.”
NWQROC’s full submission has been provided to NEMA as part of the national consultation process and can be downloaded here.
Image: Mayor Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair, and mayors from across the region are behind a joint submission opposing the changes. DOWNLOAD
Contact:
Josh Dyke - CEO, NWQROC
josh.dyke@nwqroc.com.au | 0473 795 066
