LGA supports national call for fairer disaster recovery funding
The proposed reforms would replace the current Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) with a new Disaster Recovery Funding Framework.
South Australian councils face significant exposure under the existing arrangements, including high thresholds, cash flow pressures, complex evidence requirements and uncertainty about eligibility for urgent works, internal costs and betterment.
ALGA's submission highlights the need for any new framework to ensure councils and communities are not left worse off. It also calls for timely reimbursement, flexible recovery packages, reduced red tape and greater investment in resilience and preparedness.
LGA supports the national position and emphasised that changes to the Commonwealth framework should flow through consistently to respective state and territory arrangements.
LGA also supports reform that simplifies claims processes and improves the speed, fairness, funding certainty and consistency. LGA is also seeking reforms that enable betterment and support community resilience and that do not shift additional costs, risks or administrative burden to councils.
Thank you to the member councils who provided feedback to inform LGA’s submission.
The next significant opportunity for council input is expected to come when South Australia's Local Government Disaster Recovery Assistance Arrangements are reviewed following the Federal Government reforms.
These are the arrangements that directly affect councils, and LGA will work with members to ensure their experience and priorities inform any future changes.