Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to prepare communities, particularly in regional Australia, for more intense natural disasters as a result of climate change? And what other approaches has the government been asked to consider?

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Richmond for her question. She understands the impact of climate change on her regional communities, and I was with her in Murwillumbah, where I had the privilege of meeting with local farmers, businessowners and community members, who understand the need for action on climate change now and investment in particular in disaster resilience. I thank her for her work in advocating for disaster affected communities.

We know natural disasters are increasing in frequency and ferocity. The National Climate Risk Assessment highlighted that Australia will experience climate hazards, like floods, cyclones, heatwaves, droughts and bushfires, more frequently, more severely and often at the same time. It finds that no Australian community will be immune to climate risks. Those opposite are shaking their heads, and I don't know why. In 2024-25, there were 70 declared natural disasters, impacting more than 200 local councils across the country. And some of them had more than one disaster. It is absolutely gobsmacking to sit there and shake your head and say this isn't impacting communities that you represent.

It highlights the importance of taking action to help mitigate the impacts on communities, and this government is taking action. We've created the National Emergency Management Agency. We've established the Disaster Ready Fund, where we're investing a billion dollars in disaster mitigation over five years with matching funding from other levels of government. We've increased funding for aerial capability to respond to fires, to floods and to other severe weather events. We've built the first ever national emergency stockpile to supplement jurisdictions' own resources of emergency housing, water purification and other necessities when disasters strike. We're funding Disaster Relief Australia, a veteran run volunteer organisation to provide boots on the ground when it comes to clean-up and to recovery. We are taking action to mitigate risks and to ensure communities are more resilient ahead of the next natural disaster.

While those opposite continue to debate whether they believe in climate change or not, we are taking action. While those opposite continue to fight the climate wars amongst themselves, because the rest of us are getting on with the job—

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order! Point of order! Point of order!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, yes, okay! Order! The minister may pause. It's okay!

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's on relevance. The minister was not asked about this. The minister was asked about the preparations she's making, and she's addressing matters that are not matters she was asked about.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question I hear is about what other measures the government had been asked to consider. As long as she's being relevant to the House about what the other measures are—she needs to relate it to the question, because the manager is correct; she wasn't asked about alternative policies or approaches. She was asked about what other measures the government has been asked to consider. So I will get her to specify to the House the measures that she was asked about.

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We on this side of the House don't need to fight climate wars. On this side of the House, we are taking action to help communities when they need it most. We're helping communities through preparedness and through infrastructure investment. We are taking action to keep Australians safe when natural disasters strike. I am proud to be part of a government that takes climate change seriously and is taking decisive action to prevent the worst of what we know is coming for Australians during high-risk weather seasons. Building resilience in the face of disasters is a priority for this Labor government. We only wish it were for those on that side of the House.