Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the opposition for their constructive engagement on this legislation, which is very much in the national interest. The government will support opposition amendments to increase the amount of funding available to be released from the Emergency Response Fund in any given year to $200 million, up from $150 million in the current bill. The additional $50 million allocation will be available to governments for predisaster and emergency preparedness to minimise the risk of natural disasters impacting upon communities into the future. This funding will ensure that investments can be made in resilience in areas prone to natural disasters, and the additional $50 million per annum will be available for preparedness measures on the same terms as the $150 million provided for in the original legislation, which was available for emergency response measures.

For completeness, I should also indicate to the chamber that the government has agreed to establish a $100 million TAFE revitalisation grants program, in partnership with the states, based on a fifty-fifty split, to upgrade TAFE campuses across Australia. Commonwealth grant funding will be contingent upon matched contributions from states and territories, bringing the total funding available for TAFE upgrades to $100 million. I again thank the opposition for their positive and constructive engagement with the government on this bill.