With the Central Coast no stranger to bushfires and major flooding, Member for Robertson Gordon Reid says the region will benefit greatly from a new independent review into Australia’s disaster funding arrangements commissioned by the Federal Government.
Reid said the review will ensure government investment in disaster funding is fit for purpose and effective in the face of increasingly frequent and more severe events.
It will also take forward the work the Government is already doing with the states and territories to review the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The review will be led by Andrew Colvin, partner at Deloitte, who previously helmed national recovery efforts after the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.
Colvin has considerable experience with disaster response and recovery, having led the National Bushfire Recovery Agency (NBRA) from January 2020 to May 2021.
Prior to this he was the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police and a serving officer for 30 years.
Reid said there will be an opportunity for Central Coast Council, community groups, charities and businesses to take part in the review.
“We know communities are best placed to tell us what is and isn’t working within the disaster funding system,” he said.
“Those impacted by disasters, including community groups, businesses and charities, will be encouraged to have their say through an extensive consultation process.”
Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the review, under Colvin’s leadership, will consider how government investment in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience can better support a national system.
It will also look at what will be needed to build resilience to the extreme disaster events Australia is projected to experience over the coming decades.
“We need a system that best supports communities before, during and following a disaster,” he said.
“Work is already well underway to improve federal government investment in mitigation projects, to tackle the root cause of climate change-led disasters and to overhaul our disaster response through the creation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“This review is the next step in ensuring the Government is doing everything we can to wisely invest in measures that will protect Australians from disasters and support them when they strike.”
A final report is expected to be provided to Government in April 2024.
Source:
Media release, Feb 17
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid