Dump this disaster of a deal

Proposed Federal changes to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) would see the Federal Government reduce their contribution – in what would be a significant blow to recovery and resilience in Queensland.

Proposed Federal changes a threat

Proposed Federal changes to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) would see the Federal Government reduce their contribution – in what would be a significant blow to recovery and resilience in Queensland.

Queensland councils are fighting these changes on your behalf. When disaster strikes, Queensland communities need support – not reduced funding.

Standing up for you

Queensland councils are fighting these changes on your behalf. When disaster strikes, Queensland communities need support – not reduced funding.

Queensland is Australia's most disaster-prone state – and communities are dealing with the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe disasters.

Australia's most disaster-prone state

Queensland is Australia's most disaster-prone state – and communities are dealing with the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe disasters.

What are the proposed changes?

Queensland currently receives an average Commonwealth contribution of approximately 64 per cent under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), with the Commonwealth contribution reaching up to 75 per cent for some disaster categories. The proposed framework would reduce this to a fixed 50/50 split.

The Federal Government also wants to alter the damage threshold a disaster needs to meet before they will step in to help and introduce standardised recovery support packages. In our highly diverse and decentralised State, a one-size fits all model like this would further disadvantage Queensland communities – whose unique needs require tailored local response and support.

This may sound fair – but it isn’t. When the Federal Government collects 80 per cent of all national taxation revenue, and councils collect just three per cent, the expectation is that Canberra should make the strongest contribution to helping communities recover and build back better so they are not as badly impacted when the next one strikes. Cutting this puts more pressure on ratepayers – and all 77 councils. Councils fear these changes would leave communities worse off, and leave communities exposed to cyclones, floods and bushfires without the financial support needed for recovery.

DRFA media releases

Queenslanders fear proposed disaster funding cuts

New research has found three out of four Queenslanders are worried about the threat of the Federal Government cutting disaster funding.

Disaster recovery funding cuts to dominate coastal councils’ forum

The Federal Government’s controversial plan to cut disaster recovery funding will be top of the agenda at the Local Government Association of Queensland’s two-day Coastal Leaders Forum, starting Wednesday at Shute Harbour Marine Terminal in the Whitsunday Region.

Councils take fight against Federal disaster funding cuts interstate

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has today taken six Queensland mayors from different corners of the state to Melbourne as the sector ramps up the fight to reverse the Federal Government’s unfair disaster funding changes that could leave communities impacted by cyclones, floods and bushfires without the full financial support needed for recovery.

Quilpie floods highlight risk of Federal Government’s dud deal

The Mayor of flood-hit Quilpie is warning of the crippling financial costs that lie ahead for Queensland councils if the Federal Government proceeds with its unfair changes to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Tell Canberra: Dump this disaster of a deal 

Queenslanders understand disasters. 

What we don't understand is why the most disaster-prone state in the country should be asked to shoulder more of the cost. 

Join councils, mayors and communities calling for a fair and sustainable disaster funding model. 

Share the message on Facebook