News
Carpentaria warns disaster funding changes could put emergency fodder response at risk
Carpentaria Shire Council is warning proposed changes to Australia’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) could make large-scale emergency responses such as coordinated fodder drops harder to fund in future disasters.
During major North West Queensland flooding earlier this year, the Australian and Queensland Governments jointly funded an initial $2 million emergency fodder support package, including Carpentaria Shire, followed by a $12 million Coordinated Emergency Fodder Support Package across 10 flood-affected council areas. The assistance supports extraordinary costs associated with getting emergency fodder to isolated livestock.
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.
Advocating for practical and regionally appropriate disaster funding
Cr Barry Hughes, NWQROC Chair & Mayor, Etheridge Shire Council
North West Queensland is used to carrying more than its fair share of the load when it comes to natural disasters. What we can't carry is a bigger share of the bill.
That's the message that shaped our agenda as the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils hosted a Disaster and Agriculture Roundtable in Julia Creek last week.
Mornington Island faces multi-million-dollar shortfall under Federal disaster funding cutback
When Tropical Cyclone Kirrily cut Ballaleah Road on Mornington Island in early 2024, residents were shut off with no alternate road to take. Under a proposed change to disaster funding by the Albanese government, the next repair bill could be one that Council simply cannot pay.
North West Queensland unites against federal disaster funding changes
North West Queensland leaders have ramped up their opposition to the federal government’s proposed disaster funding cuts a Disaster Funding and Agricultural Round Table in Julia Creek last week.
Joining the group 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 and Queensland Reconstruction Authority, CEO Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd).
Remote communities face millions in disaster recovery shortfalls under Federal proposal
Remote communities could be left to foot million-dollar bills for critical disaster repairs and resilience works under proposed Federal Government changes to disaster recovery funding.
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils is calling on the Federal Government to scrap a proposed move to 50:50 federal state funding, warning it would shift an impossible cost burden onto some of Australia’s most remote, disaster-exposed communities.
NWQ councils target regional impact with resilience funds
The councils of North West Queensland have welcomed a new approach to building resilience in their communities with Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister confirming delivery of resilience project funding today.
NWQ councils ready to make regional impact with much-needed disaster funding
North West Queensland councils have welcomed the announcement this week by the Australian and Queensland governments to commit an additional $91.8 million to the NQ Recovery and Resilience Package to support disaster recovery and resilience in the State’s disaster-hit north and north-west.