Federal Government launches disaster funding review

The Federal Government has commissioned an independent review into disaster funding arrangements as the nation faces increasingly frequent and more severe natural catastrophes.

The review will be led by Deloitte partner Andrew Colvin who oversaw national recovery efforts after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. Previously he was the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police.

Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says the review will consider how government investment in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience can better support a national system. It will also look at what will be needed to build resilience to the extreme disaster events Australia is projected to experience over the coming decades.

“Work is already well underway to improve federal government investment in mitigation projects, to tackle the root cause of climate change-led disasters and to overhaul our disaster response through the creation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” Mr Watt said today.

“This review is the next step in ensuring the Albanese Government is doing everything we can to wisely invest in measures that will protect Australians from disasters and support them when they strike.”

Mr Colvin, supported by a taskforce within NEMA, is expected to provide a final report to the Government in April next year.

The Government says the independent review will take forward work it is already doing with the states and territories to review the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) says it welcomes the review into funding to better support and protect communities, before, during and following a disaster.

“This is consistent with our ongoing advocacy for greater investment in resilience and mitigation,” ICA says on Twitter.

RACQ Insurance says the review follows the Federal Government’s commitment to increase mitigation funding to $200 million a year.

“While the review’s final report is not due until April 2024, this timeline should not postpone the allocation of funds to shovel-ready projects that will address the disaster risk,” GM of Advocacy Josh Cooney said.