Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Geoff McDonald has welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to reverse proposed changes to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), describing it as a win for the region and communities across Queensland.
Mayor McDonald said Local Government Association of Queensland analysis had shown local ratepayers would have been almost $50 million worse off since 2018 if the proposed changes had been in place.
“Yesterday’s announcement was a positive outcome for our communities and for councils across Queensland,” Mayor McDonald said.
“The proposed changes would have left TRC ratepayers almost $50 million worse off and placed additional pressure on communities recovering from natural disasters.
“Our region has experienced 12 declared disaster events since 2018 so we know how important it is to have strong funding partnerships in place when disaster strikes.”
In June, the Federal Government announced plans to split disaster recovery funding 50/50 with states and territories, having previously contributed up to 75% in some areas.
Queensland would have been the hardest hit by the changes, having received $1.3 billion under the current framework in 2024-25 – the highest proportion in the country.
Queensland Disaster Recovery Minister, Ann Leahy, wrote to Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, calling on the Government to abandon the proposed changes. The letter was signed by all Queensland Mayors and peak industry groups.
“We stood alongside mayors, the Local Government Association of Queensland and councils across the state and went in to fight for Queenslanders because it was the right thing to do,” said Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli.
“We look forward to strengthening our preparedness and response ahead of disaster season, in the knowledge that there will be no changes to a formula that has worked for decades.
Mayor McDonald acknowledged the advocacy efforts of the Queensland Government, the Local Government Association of Queensland and councils across the state.
“This outcome reflects the strong and united advocacy of the Queensland Government, the LGAQ and local councils that highlighted the real impacts these changes would have had on communities,” he said.
“When governments and councils work together, we achieve better outcomes for the people we serve.
“We welcome the Federal Government listening to those concerns and making the right decision to continue the status-quo on DRFA for disaster-prone communities across Queensland.”
Local Government Association of Queensland President, Matt Burnett thanked the Federal Government for hearing the concerns of councils and communities and making the change.
“Thank you to the Commonwealth for running consultation and responding swiftly to the concerns raised by Queensland local government,” he said.
“I’d also like to thank Premier David Crisafulli and Local Government Minister Ann Leahy for standing alongside the LGAQ and councils in advocating on behalf of communities across the state, and the year-round support that our councils receive from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.”
