Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Moore, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) from 2009-2013, Australia was one of the world leaders in Disaster Risk Reduction, and

  (ii) in 2013, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) praised Australia as a 'lead donor and potential role model in Disaster Risk Reduction';

(b) recognises that Disaster Risk Reduction protects lives and livelihoods, protects development gains, and is cost-effective, in that the World Bank estimates that every $1 invested in Disaster Risk Reduction saves $7 in disaster response and recovery costs; and

(c) acknowledges that:

  (i) Australia's investment in Disaster Risk Reduction has decreased; so that; between 2014 and 2016, Disaster Risk Reduction spending was reduced from around 3 per cent of the total aid program to less than 1.4 per cent of a dramatically reduced aid program, and

  (ii) with the severity of natural disasters increasing in the Asia-Pacific region, it has never been more important to help our neighbours build resilience to disasters.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted? Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia remains a leader in disaster risk reduction. Building resilience has been elevated to one of the six priority areas under the government's aid policy. The government is providing around two per cent of the official development assistance budget to disaster risk reduction activities—the same level it has been for the last five years. Australia effectively doubles the accepted international target of at least one per cent of official development assistance directed to disaster risk reduction activities. The government is focused on building climate and disaster resilience in our immediate neighbourhood, and is spending $1 billion on climate resilience over the next five years.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business motion No. 124, moved by Senator Urquhart in the name of Senator Moore, be agreed to.