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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Fierce opposition to disaster recovery funding changes in Queensland

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Queensland is dismayed by proposed changes to disaster recovery funding, shifting from a 65/35 Commonwealth/state split to 50/50.
  • The state government argues this will leave vital infrastructure like bridges and roads "half repaired" and "in ruins."
  • Queensland and the Local Government Association plan to strongly oppose the federal government's proposed changes.

Proposed changes to disaster recovery funding have ignited fierce opposition in Queensland, with the state government and local authorities vowing to fight a shift from a favorable funding split to a more equitable, and potentially damaging, 50/50 arrangement with the Commonwealth.

Under the current Disaster Recovery Framework Arrangements, the Commonwealth government contributes 65% of disaster recovery funding, with Queensland covering the remaining 35%. However, the federal government has announced plans to change this to a 50/50 split. Queensland's Minister for Disaster Recovery, Ann Leahy, warned that this change risks the state's recovery efforts, particularly given its status as the most decentralized and disaster-prone state in Australia.

Their actions will result in situations where bridges get half repaired and roads remain in ruins, at a time when local councils won't have the capacity to meet the shortfall.

— Ann LeahyQueensland's Minister for Disaster Recovery expressed concern over the impact of the proposed funding changes.

"Their actions will result in situations where bridges get half repaired and roads remain in ruins, at a time when local councils won't have the capacity to meet the shortfall," Leahy stated. She argued that the proposed changes would leave Queenslanders worse off, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters that frequently impact the state.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the proposed changes, framing them as a move to "fast-track funding" and reduce red tape. He highlighted the establishment of a national emergency management agency under his government and asserted that the new scheme would ensure faster, simpler support. However, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli dismissed these claims, telling Channel Seven's Sunrise program that he would fight the changes "tooth and nail." He described the scenario of local communities having to choose which essential repairs to prioritize as "insane."

In the end the pie's only so big, and you're effectively saying to local communities in their hour of need: 'you have you pick which road you're going to repair, you're going to have to pick which gutter gets done.'

— David CrisafulliQueensland Premier criticized the proposed funding changes, calling the situation they would create 'insane.'
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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