Labor’s decision to split natural disaster funding 50/50 between state and federal governments was done without proper consultation.
Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said the decision has blindsided local councils across the country, after Labor failed to respond to an independent review into Commonwealth disaster funding.
Senator Canavan said Queensland would be badly impacted by this rushed change to longstanding arrangements, because it currently receives the highest proportion of Commonwealth reimbursement.
“Labor’s decision to split disaster funding doesn’t even make sense because it ignored recommendations from the Colvin Review since April, 2024,” Senator Canavan said.
“Labor then made its announcement more than two years later on a Friday afternoon without warning. It is concerning that Labor wants to change the core elements of funding structures without any basic consultation, especially when Queensland is home to more floods and fire, drought and disaster.”
According to the Colvin Review, from 2018-2023 overall the Commonwealth had funded 58 per cent of all disaster recovery expenditure. For Queensland it was 64 per cent, while for NSW it was 59 per cent.
Shadow Emergency Services Minister David Littleproud said he had been contacted by local councils all over Australia, concerned about the changes.
“Councils are telling me they are incredibly upset and disappointed by the way Labor has handled this announcement,” Mr Littleproud said.
“It has created uncertainty and fear for the small councils that don’t have the rate base to be able to protect themselves against natural disasters. They rely on the bilaterial agreement that state and federal governments have had in disaster management and recovery.
“The Colvin Review was an important document, but nowhere did it recommend a blanket 50/50 share. In a disaster, Australians expect Canberra to step up, not shift the Bill to the states who do not have the resources available.
“Any changes the Coalition might choose to make to disaster response funding will be done hand-in-hand with the communities we are here to represent and with proper consultation.”
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Andrew Smith said there was no consultation “whatsoever” in relation to the decision.
“Our question is, who is going to cover the cost of disaster recovery and who is going to come up with the short-fall?” Mayor Smith said.
“It was only a few short years ago Western Downs had a $180 million natural disaster bill – how would we cover the shortfall today, if we see another disaster like that?”
Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said Mackay is prone to a natural disaster about once a year.
“What this has done to us now, is just something we can’t contemplate,” Mayor Williamson said.
“It is something we just can’t bear.”
Blackall-Tambo Regional Council Mayor Andrew Martin said the western Queensland flooding event last year covered an area bigger than Victoria, while 74 of the 77 shires in Queensland were disaster declared.
“We have more than our fair share of natural disasters, so it’s only fair that we get the equivalent in funding,” Mayor Martin said.
Tenterfield Shire Council Mayor Bronwyn Petrie said the shire has experienced compounding disasters over the last five years.
“Disaster recovery works cannot commence until we can get that funding, because our council is not in a position to be able to fund it,” Mayor Petrie said.
Paroo Shire Council Mayor Suzette Beresford said there are concerns the new proposal could change the threshold of disaster funding.
“These changes need to be reviewed with consultation, so that all councils are comfortable with what the new guidelines are,” Mayor Beresford said.
