Government Responds to the Senate Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience Report
In August 2024, the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Resilience tabled its final report.
In August 2024, the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Resilience tabled its final report.
The Committee was established to inquire into Australia’s preparedness, response and recovery workforce models, as well as to consider alternative models for disaster response and recovery to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The government has now reviewed and responded to the interim and final report, encouraging Australians to have confidence that they are looking for opportunities to better protect our communities from more complex, frequent and catastrophic disasters while reducing our reliance on the ADF to assist.
Below are the key recommendations that the government accepted, took on notice, or rejected.
The government agrees in principle to:
That the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and relevant guidelines be amended to enable funds to be distributed for the purpose of building betterment into recovery and reconstruction, ensuring that this funding is available to all jurisdictions.
To establish a national disaster mental health hub to coordinate and provide mental health resources, training, and support for first responders and communities affected by disasters
To consider ways to incentivise young Australians to participate in volunteer organisations that provide support for disaster response and recovery.
The government has noted:
Establishing a national asset register to improve the efficiency of the deployment of resources in the aftermath of a disaster, outlining that the Commonwealth would be well placed to improve coordination of national resources and assets.
That the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements be amended to set aside proportion of funding to be offered to local governments up-front.
To consider amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 to legislate time off for volunteers working with registered organisations. This entitlement would allow an employee to be absent from their employment for the time they are engaged in an emergency management activity.
Design and implement consistent national trauma-informed care principles, ensuring that first responders—both professional and volunteer—receive training and support.
Convene a disaster resilience mental health summit to hear from all related agencies and stakeholders to identify solutions to the mental health impacts of disaster.
The government does not agree to consider amendments to legislation, policy and guidelines to allow volunteers working in organisations such as State Emergency and Rural Bushfire Services to claim tax deductions for training and courses that are a part of their emergency volunteering, outlining that it would be inconsistent with the general principle under Australia’s taxation law and would provide little or no benefit if the volunteer has low or no taxable income.
Read the Australian Government response to the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Resilience report in full.