Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Molan for his question and for his longstanding interest in emergency management matters. The Australian government is well prepared to respond to disasters that may occur during the upcoming high-risk weather season. We have been working closely with states and territories to ensure that all levels of government are ready to respond quickly and effectively.

Since September this year, our government, through Emergency Management Australia, has led a national preparedness program with states and territories, industry and not-for-profit organisations so that we can practise our responses to crises. On 5 September, we announced additional funding to support preparedness for the upcoming season, including $2 million for the national community education and engagement program for the Australian Warning System due to commence this week, $44 million to the Australian Aerial Firefighting Centre to fund the lease of a large air tanker, over $20 million to implement the Australian Fire Danger Rating System to give clear and consistent fire danger information across Australia, and $23 million to enhance EMA's national situation room to have the most up-to-date information to hand in a crisis. We know that these severe weather events are inevitable and that's why we're even better prepared to respond to disasters once they've happened.

We've put in place a new streamlined process for activating the disaster recovery funding arrangements. That's the primary way we fund recovery following disasters here in Australia. These arrangements are co-funded in partnership with jurisdictions and delivered by the state or territory that has requested that assistance. They provide much-needed assistance for immediately after a natural disaster.

We're not just focused on immediate response and recovery; we're also focused on developing resilience because we know the money spent on building community resilience before a disaster will provide more long-term value than money spent on recovery.

Our government has invested heavily in disaster risk reduction with the $600 million Preparing Australia Program. On 8 November, I announced the release of the grant opportunity guidelines for round 1 and I look forward to applications. (Time expired)