Floods, fires, storms and tropical cyclones have kept authorities working hard this Higher Risk Weather Season, with 44 natural disasters declared across Australia in the past 6 months alone.

New data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), shows every mainland State and Territory was impacted during the most recent Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS), which starts in October and runs to the end of April.

Across the country, 192 Local Government Areas (LGAs) were impacted, including 60 areas which were impacted more than once.

Joint media release with the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC

Casino Showgrounds and Racecourse has reopened as a major hub for events in regional New South Wales through support from the Australian and NSW Governments.

The project received almost $12.9 million in joint funding under the co-funded Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, with an additional $30,000 from Richmond Valley Council, putting the facility on the map for equestrian activities and events.

Joint media release with the Hon Nikki Boyd MP

Queensland’s flood resilience is set to be further strengthened with the Australian Government investing $7 million in new and upgraded assets for the state’s Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN).

The investment will deliver 170 projects comprising 260 flood warning infrastructure assets across the 23 councils hardest hit by the 2022 Queensland floods, from Balonne through the south-east to Gladstone.

Joint media release with the Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP

The Federal and Queensland Governments are continuing to deliver on their commitment to ensure Bundaberg residents are engaged throughout the Bundaberg East Levee project.

The latest project updates will be provided at free ‘drop-in’ community information sessions at the School of Arts building in Bourbong Street next week (22-24 April 2024). Members of the Project Team, including representatives of the recently appointed design consultant SMEC, will be available to discuss areas of interest or concern.

Joint media release with the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC

Disaster recovery assistance is now available to communities in Western Australia's Goldfields, Southern Interior and Eucla areas affected by heavy rainfall and flash flooding last month.

Joint media release with Senator Tony Sheldon, Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery, the Hon Paul Scully MP and Janelle Saffin MP

Bridge expansions, upgraded pumps, enhanced evacuation routes and nature-based projects are just a few of the 36 projects being rolled out as part of the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP).

Joint media release with Senator Tony Sheldon and the Hon Jenny Aitchison MP

Maitland residents are set to benefit from commitments to fund a new Melville Ford Bridge and improvements to Maitland Vale and Melville Ford roads.

Communities and commuters who rely on the bridge will soon experience improved traffic flow and safety as well as better resilience against flooding.

When the new bridge is complete, it will be higher, wider and better able to withstand extreme weather conditions, keeping communities connected for longer.

Joint media release with the Hon Nikki Boyd MP and the Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP

• Popular Household Resilience Program now open to help strengthen more homes at risk from severe weather.
• The program, which helps low-income Northern Queensland homeowners carry out work to protect their homes from cyclones, has been expanded to fund up to 80 per cent of approved resilience works.
• Maximum grant limits increased to $15,000 to reflect building industry challenges.
• The program is supported by funding from Round One of the Albanese Government’s flagship Disaster Ready Fund.
• Homeowners report the program is placing downward pressure on insurance premiums.

Joint media release with Senator Nita Green and the Hon Michael Healy MP

• Seventy-three Far North Queensland tourism businesses have been approved for exceptional assistance grants, following Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
• Grants of up to $500,000 were available under a $10 million joint funding package from the Albanese and Miles Governments.
• Financial assistance is still available to help tourism businesses rebuild with resilient infrastructure.

Joint media release with the Hon Catherine King and the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC

Disaster assistance has now been extended to the Blacktown, Byron Bay, Central Coast, Clarence Valley, Dungog, Gwydir, Hornsby, Lake Macquarie, Lithgow, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Oberon, The Hills and Yass Valley local government areas (LGAs), following heavy rainfall and flooding across NSW from 1 April 2024.

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