Minute With The Mayor - Mayor Ramon Jayo

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Can I take a moment of your time to alert you to proposed changes by the Federal Government to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), and to seek your support in opposing them.

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These changes were announced on Friday, 5^th June 2026, via a late afternoon media release. If implemented in their current form, they will fundamentally alter the way disaster response and recovery is managed in Queensland.

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For councils like ours, the impacts could be severe. It has been forecast that these changes have the potential to place significant financial strain on local governments, particularly those, like ours, that are highly exposed to natural disasters.

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So what do these proposed changes mean for our community?

• A shift to a flat 50/50 cost-sharing arrangement between the Federal and Queensland Governments. Currently, Queensland receives up to 75 cents in every dollar from the Commonwealth. Under the proposed model, Queensland communities stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

• Betterment funding will be significantly reduced. Programs such as Category D Betterment and DRFA efficiencies—proven initiatives that strengthen infrastructure and better protect communities—would be discontinued.

• The Disaster Ready Fund, which has been suggested as a replacement, has already been reduced from $200 million to $142.5 million in 2026/27.

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These changes matter because of our lived experience.

In 2019, disaster damage in our community totalled $17.4 million.
In 2023, recovery works cost $3.8 million.
Last year’s event is estimated to cost $42.5 million.

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Under the proposed 25% reduction in Commonwealth funding, our community would have faced shortfalls of approximately:

• $4.35 million in 2019

• $950,000 in 2023

• $10.6 million in the most recent event

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These are not small figures; they represent roads not repaired, infrastructure left vulnerable and added pressure on ratepayers.

Living where we do, we are no strangers to natural disasters. It is a reality we cannot ignore, and we must ensure we have the support systems in place to respond and recover effectively.

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The Federal Government has opened a two-month consultation period, and I encourage you to make your voice heard. You can support this effort by:

• Signing the petition at listen2qld.com/disaster-funding

• Writing to your Federal MP and Senators, asking them to oppose these changes

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For years, disasters impacting our community have been met with a fair and effective funding framework that brought all three levels of government together. That partnership has been critical to our recovery.

Council is standing up to protect it, but we need your support.

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If we lose this world-class disaster response and recovery framework, it will be Queensland communities like ours that feel the impact most.

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I ask you to stand with us.

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