Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator McAllister. Over the weekend, we saw Tropical Cyclone Fina impact communities across the Northern Territory, and last night it made landfall in the Kimberley in my home state of Western Australia. I know the Minister for Emergency Management, Minister McBain, was in Darwin yesterday meeting with the NT government. Can the minister update the Senate on the current situation and how the Commonwealth is supporting our communities?

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

Thank you, Senator Cox. Over the weekend, we have seen incredible efforts by first responders who have helped communities across the Northern Territory who were impacted by Tropical Cyclone Fina. I want to thank the Territorians who played their role, heeding the advice from relevant agencies, keeping themselves and their communities safe. Our government wants to be good partners to the Northern Territory government and will work hand in hand with them to ensure Territorians do have the support that they need to recover. We have staff from the National Emergency Management Agency embedded in the emergency operations centre to ensure that the Australian government can consider any request for assistance as soon as possible.

You're right, Senator Cox, that Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain was on the ground up in the Territory yesterday to speak with communities and offer assistance to the NT government. She also joined the member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, and Senator McCarthy in the Tiwi Islands and took the opportunity to deliver food to communities there as well. I know that members and senators across both chambers have worked hard to support their communities and to keep them updated. While Tropical Cyclone Fina is weakening, the situation remains dynamic. Senator Cox, as your question indicated, Tropical Cyclone Fina crossed the Kimberley coast. It does remain important for communities, particularly in Western Australia, to heed emergency advice as this tropical cyclone finishes its track. Our government will continue to monitor the situation, and we stand ready to consider any requests for assistance that may be made by the Western Australian government.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cox, first supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know the Albanese Labor government is working closely with the NT government and yesterday activated the disaster relief funding to support communities as they begin to recover from Tropical Cyclone Fina. What support is available to those affected communities?

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

Many Territorians will have had a difficult few days, and they are now facing the very big task of cleaning up their homes and cleaning up their communities. Our first priority is helping people get the assistance that they need to recover and to rebuild. That's why we've worked closely with the Northern Territory government to activate financial assistance for impacted communities. Territorians who have had to relocate to evacuation centres or leave their communities due to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Fina are eligible for immediate relief payments to help them get back on their feet. We've also activated joint funding to help councils and the Territory government rebuild damaged roads and public infrastructure to a more resilient standard. We know recovery will be an ongoing process. We will continue working with the Territory government and the community to understand what's needed and to provide the necessary support.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cox, second supplementary?

Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that, as the climate changes, we can expect increasingly severe and frequent disasters. How is the Albanese Labor government investing in the Commonwealth's emergency management capabilities to better prepare for and protect our communities from disasters?

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

(—) (): On this side of the chamber we know that the climate is changing and that we need to prepare communities for more severe and more frequent disasters. It is why our government has made record investments in the Commonwealth's emergency management capability—so we can better prepare and better protect communities. We've invested in the national emergency stockpile. That includes resources like emergency housing and generators. These were ready to be deployed to the Northern Territory had the Northern Territory government requested them. We're also investing in risk reduction through the Disaster Ready Fund to better prepare communities for future disasters. Just this month, Minister McBain announced another $200 million to support 96 projects across Australia to help make communities more resilient. We will work with communities and with our Territory partners to prepare communities— (Time expired)