The Australian Parliament has passed amendments to ensure up to $200 million a year in disaster funding focuses solely on mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. The Government’s election commitment to create the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) was confirmed in the October Budget and passed into law in the House of Representatives today.

Joint media release with the Hon Anthony Albanese MP and Peter Malinauskas MP.

The Australian and South Australian governments will provide disaster assistance in nine South Australian local government areas (LGAs), as increasing Murray River flooding affects large parts of South Australia.

The assistance for individuals and families will be available through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for the flood event that started on 15 November 2022.

Joint media release with the Hon Bill Shorten MP and the Hon Steph Cooke MP Federal and State government assistance is now available in another five New South Wales local government areas (LGA) affected by the ongoing flooding. The LGAs are Eurobodalla, Inverell, Orange, Queanbeyan-Palerang and Wentworth.

Joint media release with the Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP One of Queensland’s most loved tourist destinations has been given a new lease of life, with the completion of new facilities at Binna Burra Lodge, co-funded by the Australian and Queensland governments. 

Joint media release with the Hon Bill Shorten MP The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) has been extended to the New South Wales local government areas (LGAs) of Cabonne, Dubbo, Parkes and Walgett as severe storms and flooding continue to impact large areas of the state.

​​​​​​Joint media release with The Hon Mark Ryan MP

Disaster assistance has been extended to the Goondiwindi Regional Council and Gold Coast City Council following severe storms in late October that have seen major flooding continue into November.

Assistance for counter disaster operations for both these councils and assistance to repair roads and other essential public infrastructure in Goondiwindi, is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

There is now additional support for flood-affected primary producers in NSW, as part of the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Recovery grants to help with the immediate clean-up and recovery costs and to repair extensive damage have been increased from $25,000 to up to $75,000 for primary producers. Rural landholders can now also apply for grants of up to $10,000.

Disaster assistance has been extended to the Goondiwindi Regional Council and Gold Coast City Council following severe storms in late October that have seen major flooding continue into November.

Assistance for counter disaster operations for both these councils and assistance to repair roads and other essential public infrastructure in Goondiwindi, is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

Queensland’s remote and regional communities will be able to build disaster-damaged public assets from the 2020-21 disaster season back to a better standard after they shared in $20 million in Betterment funding.

A total of 39 projects have been approved across 21 councils, including nine Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander councils through the $20 million Betterment Fund, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.

A full list of the approved projects is available at: www.qra.qld.gov.au/betterment