Queensland councils urge rethink of federal disaster funding reforms

Queensland local government bodies are urging the Australian Federal Government to reconsider proposed reforms to the Disaster Recovery Funding Framework (DRFF). The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and the Bundaberg Regional Council have raised concerns that the changes could reduce essential support for communities following natural disasters.

Under current arrangements, the Commonwealth typically contributes between 64% and 75% of disaster recovery costs, with the remainder covered by state and territory governments. The proposed model seeks to reduce the federal contribution to a 50:50 split with states. While the government asserts these changes will make funding simpler and faster, local leaders warn the shift could create significant financial gaps.

LGAQ President Matt Burnett and Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn both cautioned that the reduction in federal support could disproportionately affect regions prone to severe weather, such as Queensland and New South Wales. They warned that the funding shift might leave local councils and ratepayers responsible for much higher costs during recovery and resilience projects.