Disaster Relief.
Queenslanders deserve strong disaster relief for safer, more resilient communities.
Queensland leads the nation in responding to natural disasters and the Miles Labor Government is committed to doing with matters for a stronger, more resilient Queensland.
Our frontline workers and volunteers work tirelessly to protect our communities right across Queensland in the face of successive natural disasters and the impacts of our changing climate.
That is why the Miles Labor Government has delivered the largest improvement to our disaster and emergency services to provide world-class disaster response to Queenslanders.
Our increased funding commitment ensures our disaster and emergency teams, along with 30,000 volunteers, dedicated to keeping our communities safe have the best possible resources.
This includes:
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investing more than $1 billion for the newly established Queensland Fire Department, ensuring the state’s firefighting services have the best facilities, vehicles and equipment to respond to future emergencies.
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105 additional SES staff, more SES equipment and more flood boats to further support volunteer and community safety and boost rescue efforts, helping communities when they need it most.
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Establishing Marine Rescue Queensland, with $27 million in ongoing annual funding to back the volunteers who keep boaties safe on our waterways.
And when disasters happen, we are committed to building back better.
Our Record.
This builds on the strong Labor record of doing what matters to support Queensland communities following natural disasters.
In partnership with the Commonwealth, the Miles Labor Government has facilitated almost $78 million in financial support for more than 377,500 people and almost $247 million in disaster assistance packages for local communities, small businesses and industries such as tourism.
Our $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, an Australian first, has helped thousands of flood-impacted homeowners repair, raise, or demolish and rebuild or relocate their flood-affected homes.
Labor ensured the Queensland Reconstruction Authority was established as a permanent entity and since 2015 Labor has increased the operating budget by almost 60% to $48.6 million and increased staffing by almost 70%.
Queenslanders, no matter where they live, can get access to immediate assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster and we are assisting local communities to not just build back, but build back better as they recover, rebuild and reconnect.
This is all at risk under the LNP.
The LNP only reluctantly agreed to continue the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and refused to commit further funding in its first budget, putting Queensland’s ongoing recovery at risk.
The LNP did not establish the Queensland Reconstruction Authority as a permanent body in Queensland and had plans to cut 22 staff – a reduction of almost 20%.
And it will do it again, the LNP already has billions of dollars in unfunded commitments, which means more cuts are on the way.
You can’t trust the LNP to keep you safe when there’s a disaster. You just have to look at their track record. Back when he was Local Government Minister, David Crisafulli was developing a $1 billion disaster levy to impose on households.
It is clear the LNP will tax Queenslanders more to pay for disaster response.