Australia is better prepared for the current disaster season, with the Australian Government delivering all Commonwealth-led recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

In response to the extreme bushfire season of 2019-2020, the Royal Commission made 15 recommendations that were to be led by the Australian Government.

Those recommendations have now been completed.

The next piece of the Australian Government’s preparations for Australia’s 2023-24 Summer has been unveiled, with the deployment of the National Large Air Tanker (LAT) to fight fires across the country.

Today’s unveiling is a significant boost to our national aerial firefighting capability during this High-Risk Weather Season.

The National LAT, which will be prepositioned across Australia, based on the areas of highest risk or concern, is a Boeing 737 operated by aerial firefighting specialists which can carry and drop up to 15,000 litres of retardant or water. 

Joint media release with the Hon Kate Washington and the Hon Jihad Dib

The Australian and New South Wales Governments have given flood-affected districts a welcome boost with almost 60 service providers and non-government organisations sharing in $9.1 million in grant funding to assist with recovery.

The NGO Flood Recovery Program is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Joint media release with the Hon Madeleine King MP, the Hon Roger Cook MLA, the Hon Rita Saffioti MP and the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC

The New Fitzroy River Bridge in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has officially opened to traffic, more than six months ahead of schedule.

The completion of the project marks the official reconnection of East and West Kimberley, after the old Fitzroy River Bridge was irreparably damaged in the historic Kimberley floods in January.

Joint media release with the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC and the Hon Rita Saffioti MLA

Roads and bridges in Western Australia’s Kimberley region will be more resilient to future floods and storms, with the Albanese and Cook Governments investing $104.9 million in a betterment program for flood-impacted infrastructure.

Jointly funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the Infrastructure Betterment Program is the first of its kind in Western Australia.

The Bundaberg East Levee project is a step closer to being delivered, with project commencement approvals in place and consultants being sought to finalise the levee’s design. The Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments reached agreement in June this year to build a 1.7km concrete levee parallel to the southern bank of the Burnett River. It will mitigate damage from a Burnett River flood within Bundaberg East, Bundaberg South, and the CBD - without increasing flooding in other areas of Bundaberg.

Joint media release with the Hon Jihad Dib MP

Disaster assistance is now available in the Bega Valley, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven and Snowy Monaro Local Government Areas (LGAs) following severe flooding from 28 November 2023.

The assistance measures are being provided by the Albanese and Minns Governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Support includes:

Joint media release with the Hon Steven Miles MP

Queensland communities can now apply for a share of $7 million to deliver faster, more effective flood warnings.

Applications are now open for the latest round of Flood Warning Infrastructure Network, (FWIN) for the 23 southern Queensland councils hit hardest by the 2022 floods.

Funding can be used by councils for infrastructure including rainfall and river gauges, flood cameras, data repeaters and electronic signage.

Joint media release with the Hon Steven Miles MP

The four-megalitre Emu Park Reservoir is now a reality for the Capricorn Coast, with the $2.86 million piece of water infrastructure operational and ensuring water security for the region.

The project received $2 million from the Federal and Queensland Governments under the Local Economic Recovery (LER) Program, and $860,000 from Livingstone Shire Council.

The LER Program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State via Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).