Queensland launches disaster resilience strategy
The Queensland Government has released a new five-year strategy to improve the state’s capacity to deal with natural disasters and climate change.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unveiled the document after addressing the United Nations’ Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane.
“Queensland is the most disaster impacted state in Australia, but we’re also the most resilient,” the Premier said.
“Every year we could be faced with flooding, cyclones, bushfires, or other severe weather events, so it’s vital we continue to improve the framework to overcome any challenge.”
She says the state has built back better after recent disasters, saving money, time and effort.
“But just like the rest of Australia and the Asia-Pacific, climate change means we can’t afford not to continue improving.”
The Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience 2022-27, which highlights insurance affordability as a “core issue”, focuses on community-informed resilience investment and greater interagency coordination.
It aims to make resilience “business as usual”, considering the impact of climate change, to help create a stronger, safer and more resilient state.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles says this latest five-year strategy builds on many years of improving disaster resilience, coordinated by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
“Whether it’s government, industry, businesses or communities, we need to embed resilience into every decision we make,” Mr Miles said.
“Every region across Queensland now has a locally-led and regionally-coordinated blueprint to increase statewide disaster resilience.
“This new strategy looks to maximise that local coordination to improve disaster response and recovery.
“By strengthening the lines of resilience between our people and the social, built, economic and natural environments around us, we’ll strengthen resilience in Queensland.”
Click here to read the strategy.
