Budget 2026–27

In the 2026–27 Budget, the Australian Government continues its investment in national capabilities to support communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from crises.

In this Budget, the Australian Government has prioritised funding to several critical national preparedness and response initiatives.

You can access our Budget Statement on the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

Budget 2026–27 initiatives

• Funding for implementation and sustainment for the new cell broadcast messaging system – AusAlert – to support hazard preparedness, emergency response and recovery by sending near-instant alerts to mobile devices and landlines across Australia in times of an emergency.
• Funding to bolster the national aerial firefighting fleet and increase national surge capabilities over the next three years.  
• An increase of $6.0 million to continue engagement with states and territories on a national Public Safety Mobile Broadband capability, to provide Public Safety Agency personnel with fast, safe and secure data and communications. 

Budget 2025–26 

In the 2025–26 Budget, the Australian Government committed to progress national capabilities to keep Australians safe.

Budget 2025–26 initiatives

• Continued investment and engagement with states and territories to develop a national Public Safety Mobile Broadband capability for first responders to communicate using fast, reliable, secure technology.
• Investment in programs that support community recovery and resilience, including wellbeing support for emergency services workers.
• Support for critical bushfire recovery and resilience projects through the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Program.
• In addition to the funding that had been announced by the Government to date, the 2025–26 Budget included a provision of $1.2 billion over the forward estimates to accommodate additional expenditure on disaster recovery payments including following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025. 

Budget 2025–26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook initiatives

The Australian Government continued investment in Australia’s resilience to natural hazards and preparedness to respond to disasters:

• $19.0 million in 2025–26 to deliver a new national cell broadcast messaging system to improve emergency warning communications and support public awareness of the new system
• $7.0 million over two years from 2025–26 for the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability (NBIC) and North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information web service for continued availability of bushfire data and information
• $3.9 million over 3 years from 2025–26 to upgrade infrastructure at fire stations across Chidlow, Darlington, Glen Forrest, Mt Helena, Parkerville and Wooroloo in Perth, Western Australia
• $0.7 million in 2025–26 for the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) to enhance disaster response coordination and facilitate shared resources between jurisdictions to prepare and respond to disasters of national significance.

Budget 2024–25

The 2024–25 Budget invested in measures that addressed the increase in severe and frequent natural hazards brought on by climate change. 

This included a focus on enhanced emergency response capabilities and risk reduction and resilience at national, community and individual levels. 

In this Budget the Australian Government also committed additional funding to sustain NEMA’s operation with $188.2 million over 4 years and indicative ongoing funding of $48.2 million from 2028–29. 

Budget 2024–25 initiatives

• Aerial Firefighting
• National Emergency Management Stockpile
• Insurance Affordability
• Continued provision of mental health and wellbeing support for first responders

Budget 2023–24

The 2023–24 Budget delivered strong investments in emergency management, building on the establishment of NEMA and the up to $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund.

This investment helped ensure a cohesive approach to natural hazard preparedness and emergency response and recovery.

In the previous year, nearly 70 per cent of Australians had been impacted by storms, floods, cyclones and bushfires and the Australian public expected the Commonwealth to do more to improve the resilience of Australian communities.

The Australian Government took decisive action through greater investment in risk reduction and coordination of all-hazard preparedness, response and recovery.

Budget 2023–24 initiatives

• National Messaging System
• Public Safety Mobile Broadband
• National Emergency Management Stockpile
• National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework