Do not shift disaster recovery costs onto local communities
Published on 25 June 2026
Cassowary Coast urges federal, state governments: Do not shift disaster recovery costs onto local communities
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council has called for genuine consultation with Queensland councils on proposed changes to Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to ensure that recovery costs are not shifted onto local communities.
Based on recommendations from the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding, proposed changes to the DRFA – to be replaced by a proposed new Disaster Relief Funding Framework – include simpler disaster recovery funding, less red tape, quicker payments, increased certainty, and a focus on betterment and resilience.
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council supports reforms that improve disaster recovery funding, reduce administrative burden, strengthen resilience, and provide greater certainty to disaster-affected communities.
However, Council is concerned about the proposed move to a 50:50 funding model. The reduction of the Commonwealth’s contribution would put pressure on the Queensland Government to increase the state’s contribution. The Queensland Government spends more on disasters than any other state or territory. and if the state doesn’t step in to cover the gap these significant costs could be pushed onto local governments.
Other risks for the Cassowary Coast and other local governments include tighter eligibility, delayed reimbursements, reduced betterment opportunities, increased local contributions, and reduced access to other funding programs.
Given the Cassowary Coast region’s exposure to cyclones, flooding, storm tide, landslips, coastal erosion, and severe weather events, timely and adequate disaster recovery funding is critical to restoring essential public assets and supporting community recovery.
Over the past four years, the DRFA has been activated for four significant events in the Cassowary Coast, with Council receiving funding of around $80 million to repair essential public assets.
We also note that 74 of Queensland’s 77 local government areas were disaster-declared in 2025-26, representing approximately 96 per cent of the state.
Council urges the Australian Government to consult further with the Queensland state government and Queensland councils to ensure reforms do not effectively shift disaster recovery costs onto regional, rural and remote communities.
Information about the proposed changes is available at Disaster Recovery Funding Framework | NEMA.
Ends.
Quotes attributable to Cassowary Coast Mayor Teresa Millwood:
“We call on the Australian Government to further engage with the Queensland Government to retain a fair, needs-based disaster recovery funding model that recognises Queensland’s high exposure to natural disasters and the limited financial capacity of many regional and rural councils.”
“We call on the Australian Government to genuinely consult with Queensland councils before making any final decision on the proposed Disaster Recovery Funding Framework.”
“We call on the Australian Government to increase investment in disaster betterment, mitigation and resilience programs in addition to, and not as a replacement for, core disaster recovery funding.”
“I have invited the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and Minister for Emergency Management, The Hon Kristy McBain MP to visit the Cassowary Coast to see firsthand what the DRFA has delivered for our community – and what it would mean if the costs of natural disasters were effectively shifted onto our community.”
“We support reforms that simplify disaster recovery funding, reduce red tape, improve speed of payment, increase certainty, and support betterment and resilience – provided those reforms do not reduce the overall level of Commonwealth funding available to disaster-affected Queensland communities.”
“We reject any reform that effectively shifts disaster recovery costs onto local councils or ratepayers.”
Picture caption: Upper Daradgee Road: Stabilisation and reseal of approximately 3.1 km of roadway undertaken in conjunction with funding through Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements.