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Overview

If you are a journalist and would like to submit a media enquiry or interview request for the Coordinator-General of the National Emergency Management Agency you can

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If you are have been affected by a disaster and want to know about available assistance, visit Disaster Assist.

For more information about mental health support visit healthdirect or Head to Health.

Media articles

Summer brings increased fire risk

The Albanese Government is urging Australians to plan ahead, with large parts of the country facing an increased risk of fires this summer. The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Summer 2023, released today by AFAC (the National Council for fire and emergency services), predicts spring’s record-breaking dry conditions and warmer-than-average temperatures are expected to continue well into the New Year. Large areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria,

New and extended support measures for bushfire-impacted NQ communities

Joint media release with the Hon Steven Miles MP

The councils of Cook, Mareeba and Tablelands can now access counter disaster operations assistance through the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Councils can use this new support to cover the extraordinary expenses associated with disaster response and community recovery, including firefighting operations, incident management and the establishment of control centres.

Recovery support for fire-affected Walgett communities

Joint media release with the Hon Jihad Dib MP

Disaster assistance is now available in the Walgett Shire Local Government Area (LGA) following severe bushfires from 14 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:

Disaster assistance available for Western Australia’s Mariginiup bushfire

Joint media release with Stephen Dawson MLC

Disaster recovery assistance has been made available to those affected by the bushfire in Mariginiup, north of Perth, in Western Australia.

The jointly funded assistance is being provided through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for affected individuals, families, primary producers, and small businesses in the cities of Swan and Wanneroo.

More than $46 million builds back more resilient Aboriginal-owned assets

Joint media release w​ith the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC, the Hon David Harris MP, the Hon Jihad Dib MP

Nearly 30 programs will share in $46.3 million to repair, restore and improve First Nations-owned social and cultural assets, directly damaged by floods in flood-impacted regions across New South Wales, through funding from the Albanese and Minns Governments.

Resilient Kids launched to support Northern Rivers children and teens post-floods

Joint media release with Social Futures and Healthy North Coast

A new program – Resilient Kids – has arrived to support the health and wellbeing of Northern Rivers young people aged eight to 18 years in the wake of the 2022 floods.

Resilient Kids, funded through a $10 million grant from the Australian Government through the National Emergency Management Agency, will support thousands of Northern Rivers youth and at least 75 schools.

Iconic Lismore ice cream factory reopens

Northern Rivers flood recovery has hit a significant milestone today, with the reopening of the Norco ice cream factory in Lismore. The factory, one of the biggest employers in the Northern Rivers, was forced to close after suffering major damage in the February-March 2022 floods. Today it’s back in business, with 130 local employees now back at work, and more hires to be made over the coming months.

Personal hardship grants activated for The Pines and Condamine Farms bushfires

Joint media release with the Hon Steven Miles MP

Queenslanders impacted by recent bushfires southwest of Toowoomba can now apply for emergency financial support jointly funded through the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The personal and household grants are available to fire-impacted residents of The Pines and Condamine Farms after bushfires in the Toowoomba Regional Council area on 19 November prompted an evacuation.

Loans for bushfire-impacted small businesses in Queensland's Western Downs

Joint media release with the Hon Steven Miles MP

Disaster assistance provided by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments has been extended to help bushfire affected small business operators in the Western Downs local government area.

Concessional loans up to $250,000 are available to re-establish operations for fire impacted businesses in the region, covering costs such as:

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