The Albanese Government will invest more than $5.4 million in projects to boost natural hazard and disaster preparedness and capability across Australia.
Four disaster risk reduction projects will be funded under the Disaster Risk Reduction Package (DRRP).
These projects will help reduce the risk and impact of disasters associated with natural hazards on Australian communities and the economy.
The four projects are:
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) – $2.5 million to develop enhanced approaches to reduce the risk and build resilience to bushfires and floods in the telecommunications sector.
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts – $210,000 for the coordination of drone research and operational capability to enhance bushfire risk reduction.
- Bureau of Meteorology – $1.27 million to enhance Bureau of Meteorology warnings aligned to the Australian Warning System to help communities prepare and respond to hazardous weather events.
- Queensland Reconstruction Authority – $1.5 million to improve accessibility of disaster risk and preparedness information for households and communities.
The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have committed $261 million over five years from 2019-20 through the DRRP which is designed to reduce the risk and impact of disasters in line with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the DRRP was about reducing the risk and being better prepared for devastating natural disasters.
“The Albanese Government is committed to making sure Australia is more prepared for natural disasters like fires, drought and floods, so communities can respond and recover quicker,” Minister Watt said.
“These four projects will assist in equipping communities and decision makers with the capabilities and information needed to reduce disaster risk.
“I’m pleased that this funding will help improve the resourcing and accessibility of information, and will enhance risk reduction and preparedness for vulnerable community members including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
Further information about projects funded under all four rounds of the DRRP can be found at:
Disaster Risk Reduction Package | National Emergency Management Agency (nema.gov.au)
If you would like to know more about what the Australian Government is doing to support Australian communities to recover from and be more prepared against disasters, please visit:
Programs | National Emergency Management Agency (nema.gov.au)
Further information about the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework can be found at:
National Disaster Risk Reduction (homeaffairs.gov.au)
