Budget 2025-26 

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

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

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 announced by the Government to date, the 2025-26 Budget includes 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 allocates funding to the Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC) for the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) to support its role in providing national coordination of emergency management resources. This is achieved through established partnerships and national arrangements. Funding of $0.7 million has been approved for the NRSC, which includes administrative costs for the Business Grants Hub.
• The National Bushfire Intelligence Capability (NBIC), developed and managed by the CSIRO, has received $2.6 million in funding. This allocation addresses the ongoing need for science-based, readily accessible and authoritative national data and analyses on bushfire hazard potential through modelling and mapping products.
• The North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information Service (NAFI) is a web service used by land and fire managers in northern and central Australia that provides data on fires, maps of fire activity, and training resources. Funding of $0.7 million has been approved for the NAFI grant and additional administration costs through Business Grants Hub.

Budget 2024-25

The Federal Budget 2024-25 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 the National Emergency Management Agency’s (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 Federal Budget 2023-24 delivered strong investments in emergency management, building on the establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency 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