Emergency Services: Ongoing initiatives
Working Together to Manage Emergencies
Local Government
The Australian Government is providing $8.7 million in 2007-08 under the Local Grants Scheme to assist local governments to implement community risk management initiatives, identify vulnerabilities with a view to enhancing protective measures for critical infrastructure and provide emergency management and security awareness training for staff working in local government. Grants will support initiatives aimed at addressing all hazards likely to impact on communities with a view to improving their resilience. States and territories will be involved in determining priorities. In total, the Working Together to Manage Emergencies initiative offered $30 million in funding over four years through the Local Grants Scheme.
Volunteers
In 2007-08, $4.3 million in funding will be provided through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund to support projects that boost the recruitment, retention and training of volunteers in agencies at the frontline of emergency management. In total, the Working Together to Manage Emergencies initiative offered $16 million in funding over four years through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund.
Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements
In 2007-08, the Australian Government will continue to support individuals and communities to recover from cyclones, floods, storms and other devastating natural disasters through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
Since 2001-02, the Australian Government has provided more than $300 million in assistance under the NDRRA to the states and territories to help alleviate the financial burden that natural disasters cause state and territory governments and the community.
Once the cost of a natural disaster exceeds $240,000, the Australian Government will reimburse 50 per cent of eligible personal hardship and distress expenditure by states and territories, covering:
- emergency food, clothing, accommodation and repairs to housing; and
- the replacement of essential household items and personal effects.
Subject to set thresholds, the Australian Government will also provide extra assistance by reimbursing up to 75 per cent of eligible state expenditure on a range of measures, including:
- restoration or replacement of essential public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges;
- concessional interest rate loans to small businesses and primary producers and voluntary non-profit bodies.
In December 2006, the Prime Minister announced a number of enhancements to the NDRRA including the introduction of a community recovery package to improve the focus on long term holistic recovery. Several communities, small businesses and primary producers have since benefited from this enhanced assistance including:
- Victoria and Tasmania Bushfires, 2006-07: The Australian Government established a community recovery package of up to $700,000 in each state to provide support to those affected by severe bushfires in Victoria and Tasmania during the summer of 2006-07. On 13 April 2007, the Prime Minister announced an additional contribution of $350,000 to the Victorian Government for their recovery package.
- Esperance Flooding in Western Australia and Renmark Storms in South Australia, 2006-07: Recovery grants up to $15,000 were also made available for primary producers and small businesses in Renmark and Esperance following recent storms and flooding.
Prior to the enhancements announced in December 2006, the Australian Government, in consultation with the Queensland Government, developed a tailored package to provide relief to the communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Larry. Due to the extensive damage sustained as a result of Tropical Cyclone Larry, the relief package was over and above standard assistance provided under the NDRA.
In addition to a $40 million advance to the Queensland Government, assistance measures such as a one-off concessional interest rate loan/grant measure for primary producers and businesses was implemented along with a contribution of up to $10 million towards Operation Farm Clear and a donation of $1 million towards the Prime Minister’s and Premier’s Cyclone Larry Relief Appeal.
Natural Disaster Mitigation
In 2007-08, the Australian Government will continue to support natural disaster mitigation at each level of government by providing funding through the Natural Disaster Mitigation Programme and the Bushfire Mitigation Programme.
In 2007-08, $48.6 million will be made available to support natural disaster mitigation projects and activities such as the construction of flood levee banks, cyclone shelters and fire trails. This funding includes $43.6 million for the Natural Disaster Mitigation Programme (including $13 million for the Launceston Levee measure) and $5 million for the Bushfire Mitigation Programme.
Together, these partnership programmes provide funding to states and territories for cost-effective mitigation activities that contribute to safer, sustainable communities better able to withstand the effects of natural disasters.
An additional $20 million towards the Bushfire Mitigation Programme was announced in May 2007. This funding will continue to help fund fire trails and other practical measures that make it quicker and easier for fire fighters to get bushfires under control.
The Bushfire Mitigation Programme, to date, has helped to fund significant infrastructure works, including the construction and upgrade of 4,000 km of fire trials, the maintenance of more than 9,000 kilometres of fire trails, the construction or repair of 58 bridges, the installation of 74 culverts, 39 water tanks, 11 other water supply projects and 88 signage projects.
Announced in May 2007, the Australian Government will provide $41.2 million over the next four years to help the states and territories lease more aerial fire fighting equipment in the lead-up to bushfire seasons. This is an important measure as aerial fire fighting is one of the key weapons in the fight against major bushfires, and the funding will enable the states and territories to lease more helicopters and fixed wing planes, above and beyond the 25 aircraft that the Australian Government subsidised in 2006-07.