Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Furner for his continued interest in emergency management matters, particularly those in Queensland. Over the past few summers we have been reminded how devastating natural disasters can be—the Queensland floods and cyclones in 2010-11, the Victorian and New South Wales floods last year and the tragic Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. The Gillard government is investing a total of $6 billion in Queensland to recover and rebuild. Across Australia we have allocated $3 billion this financial year in post-disaster support to help families get back on their feet.

The recent natural disasters show how important it is for households and communities to be prepared. They have highlighted to Australians how important our committed volunteers are as well. For the government it is important we invest in preparation. Disaster management is a shared responsibility between both the Commonwealth and the states and territories. Clearly, the states and territories do take the brunt. They are the first responders in emergencies.

The Commonwealth invests in mitigation, relief and recovery work. The Gillard government take disaster resilience and mitigation seriously. We are investing $110 million to support communities in disaster mitigation to deliver a range of projects so communities are better prepared. The Gillard government is investing in a range of measures that will help communities prepare and potentially save lives and properties. These include projects in Victoria to improve bushfire predictions, funding for flood mapping in Gippsland and support for education and safety. In Tasmania funding is being provided for improved state-wide emergency management planning. In South Australia almost $7 million in joint funding is being used to— (Time expired)