Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator McAllister. It's been a tough summer for communities across Australia who have experienced severe weather events, from dangerous bushfires in Victoria to flooding in north-west Queensland. Communities in my home state of Victoria have experienced catastrophic fires, with thousands of firefighters courageously facing challenging conditions to protect communities and bring fires under control. How has the Albanese Labor government worked with the Victorian government to respond to the fires and support communities as they recover?

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

Thank you, Senator Darmanin. I know that all Victorian senators will have been standing with their communities in what has been a very difficult time. In the last weeks, we have seen communities across Victoria devastated by dangerous bushfires, and I want to thank the thousands of first responders who have braved very challenging conditions and protected their communities.

We know that it is a very different time. Many in the community have had to evacuate and many have experienced damage to their homes and to their businesses. I want to thank all of those Victorians who have listened to the authorities and also those who have reached out and helped out their neighbours. Our thoughts are with the family and the friends of the person who died in the Longwood bushfire and the rescuers who were with them at that time.

While the firefighting effort is far from over, we want to support Victorians to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. The Albanese government has activated the disaster recovery allowance for workers who have experienced a loss of income as a result of the bushfires, as well as the Australian government disaster recovery payment, which provides one-off financial assistance for Victorians who have experienced major impacts from the fires. We're working hand in hand with the Victorian government to activate more than $77 million in additional assistance. Primary producers are the backbone of many of these local economies, and we are providing $75,000 grants to help cover the costs of clean-up and reinstating their enterprises. We've established a $12 million council support fund to support bushfire affected councils to restore vital community assets and services, and we're investing more than $82 million to restore and repair bushfire affected roads. We continue to monitor the situation in Victoria, and our government will work with the Victorian government and stands ready to consider requests for assistance. (Time expired)

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

Senator Darmanin, first supplementary?

Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Many communities across northern Queensland are also experiencing the impacts of ongoing flooding and severe weather. Emergency service workers, volunteers and the community have all been supporting each other through this very difficult time. What assistance has the Albanese Labor government activated to support Queensland communities impacted by the recent flooding?

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

North-west Queensland has experienced a series of monsoonal floods, and ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji has caused widespread damage to people's homes and livelihoods. Queenslanders are resilient, supporting each other during these challenging times, but this is a time to help them. Supporting these communities in north-west Queensland is and will remain a priority for the Albanese government.

We know that recovery starts with people; that's where we always start. It's why we've worked with the Queensland government to activate personal hardship assistance, to help ensure impacted residents can meet essential needs like food and clothing. We know the extensive flooding has been particularly tough for farmers in north-west Queensland, and it's why we have made available disaster recovery grants of up to $75,000 for impacted primary producers and activated $7 million in emergency fodder assistance to help farmers keep their stock fed. (Time expired)

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

Senator Darmanin, second supplementary?

Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know Australians are facing increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. The Albanese Labor government has been committed to strengthening the government's capacity to respond to events like these and to help people recover. What measures has the government invested to prepare for this higher-risk weather season?

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