Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt. Minister, in the face of more frequent and intense natural disasters across Australia, how is the Albanese government helping communities become more resilient?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sheldon for his question and for his terrific work as Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery. As you know, Senator Sheldon, since our election 12 months ago the Albanese government has worked hard to ensure that Australia is better prepared for future natural disasters. The years of 'I don't hold a hose' and 'It's not my responsibility' ended on 21 May last year when we had a government elected that was prepared to take responsibility and ensure that Australia is better prepared for what lies ahead.

We know that, by investing in projects that prevent the impact of natural disasters, we can keep communities safer. Every dollar spent on resilience and mitigation saves on recovery. In fact, every dollar spent on resilience and mitigation delivers a return on investment to governments and households nine times over. That's why last week I announced the first round of the Albanese government's new Disaster Ready Fund. This is the biggest ever long-term investment from federal, state and territory governments working together in boosting Australia's preparedness for natural disasters.

With co-contributions from states, territories and councils that investment will reach up to $2 billion over the next five years in disaster mitigation. Through that we're investing in hard infrastructure, like seawalls, drainage improvements, cyclone shelters, flood levees and runways. We're improving telecommunications and digital connectivity, subsidising home retrofitting and funding research to better understand community risk. A large number of these projects will address issues that communities have wanted fixed for years but were just not dealt with by the former coalition government. For example, the upper Brown Hill Creek in South Australia has been identified as an area of concern for over a decade, and I know that flood mitigation projects in areas including Campaspe Shire, Doomadgee in north-west Queensland and Cabonne in western New South Wales will also be welcomed by these communities still recovering from last year's devastating floods. While we can't change what they've already experienced, we can help to reduce their risk into the future, and that's exactly what the Disaster Ready Fund is doing. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, first supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Disaster Ready Fund is obviously up and going. We know that building resilience and preparedness in disaster-prone communities is critical to reducing disaster risk. What has been the response to the Albanese government's commitment to build a more resilient Australia?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After a decade of reckless inaction and a decade of not holding hoses by the former government, the Albanese government's Disaster Ready Fund has been welcomed with open arms by communities, councils and businesses.

I know it really hurts when you're reminded of your record, but it was there for everyone to see. Fortunately, the world has noticed that things have changed, including the Australian Local Government Association President, Councillor Linda Scott, who said about the Disaster Ready Fund—

Opposition senators interje cting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Order on my left! Minister Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know taking responsibility is a foreign concept for the opposition, but we've finally got a government who will do it. The Australian Local Government Association President, Councillor Linda Scott, said about the Disaster Ready Fund:

We strongly advocated to the Government for this funding in the lead up to last year's election and were thrilled when it was announced and later enshrined in legislation.

RACQ chief officer David Carter said:

RACQ has long advocated for greater investments in household mitigation, and it is great to see the Federal Government recognise the importance of these resilience programs.

Programs such as these can help keep insurance affordable and accessible as it reduces risk. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under the former Morrison government, the Emergency Response Fund failed to build a single disaster mitigation project in three years, while earning them over $800 million in interest. Minister, how is the Albanese government's Disaster Ready Fund operating differently to the former government's Emergency Response Fund?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie! Minister.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon. I know Senator McKenzie is particularly touchy about this because, of course, she was the emergency management minister who did not build a single mitigation project using that Emergency Response Fund. Who can forget that fund? It came to light after those terrible floods in Lismore last year. The former government's failed Emergency Response Fund, nearly $5 billion in funding, did not build a single mitigation project in three years. In fact, all it did over that time was earn the former government over $800 million in interest. Rather than keeping Australians save, the coalition put the money in a safe and earned interest on it rather than helping Australians. It was another example of a government that loved an announcement but was terrible in delivery.

In contrast to that, the Albanese government, in just our first year, has committed up to $1 billion over five years.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Where's Lismore's levy?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Order! Minister, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't even said 'colour coded spreadsheets', so I don't know why Senator McKenzie is so vocal at the moment! In October last year, we committed up to $1 billion over five years to the Disaster Ready Fund in our first budget. In November, we enshrined the Disaster Ready Fund in legislation. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.