Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese government has made record investments in the Commonwealth's emergency management capabilities to better prepare and protect communities. We've increased funding to the national aerial firefighting fleet. It includes the large air tanker and the Black Hawk helicopters, which were deployed to Victoria to provide extra support to state authorities who need the response. We established the national emergency management stockpile, which includes items like generators and emergency accommodation, which states and territories can call upon.

We know that, as the climate changes, we can expect more frequent and more severe disasters. That's why we want to help communities. We want to build resilience against future disasters with our $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund, and we recently committed $14.6 million, as an example, for a cyclone shelter on Palm Island, in northern Queensland, to protect that local community.