Queensland Mayors Protest Federal Disaster Funding Cuts in Melbourne

Mayors from parts of Queensland hit hard by floods and cyclones have protested in a Melbourne park against planned changes to federal disaster funding.

Federal and state disaster ministers met in the Victorian capital for a roundtable on emergency management on Wednesday.

Six mayors flew in from across Queensland to protest plans to cap federal disaster contributions, but were unable to secure a meeting with the federal minister.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Alison Smith said the organisation was pushing for clarity about who would cover the funding gap.

"We have heard from every corner of the state, concerns from our members about what the proposed reductions in federal funding would do to their communities in future disaster recovery," she said.

'I feel like we're being punished'

All levels of government contribute to recovery efforts from natural disasters like fires, floods and cyclones, with federal funding usually administered through state and territory governments.

The proposed changes would see the federal contribution capped at 50 per cent, whereas the Commonwealth has typically contributed around 65 per cent.

Queensland would feel the biggest impact — it received $1.3 billion under the current framework in 2024-25, the highest proportion in the country.

Ramon Jayo, mayor of the Hinchinbrook Shire in Queensland's wet tropics, said funding was vital for his region, which has faced five declared events in the past nine years.

"We get flooding every year, we get major disasters every second year. So the ability for us to respond and to recover and to get the infrastructure fixed is essential," he said.

Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the changes came from recommendations made by the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding.

"We've heard through the review and through years of comprehensive engagement with councils, state and territory governments that the current system needs to be fixed," she said.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan said it took her shire a decade to shake off $37 million of debt from disaster recovery, following fatal flooding events in 2011 and 2013.

"My community doesn't care where the money is coming from, but they do care about [are] the roads open, can they get across the bridge, can they take their kids to school? Can my farmers put their produce on the road?"

Cr Milligan said local councils would also like more clarity from the state government about its funding commitment moving forward.

"The community wants confidence that we are actually delivering, and that people matter," she said.

Queensland Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the proposed changes were a "sucker punch" for councils.

"I absolutely support the mayor's fighting for their communities because this heartless move has stripped local governments of disaster funding and the certainty they will need to recover," she said.

A spokesperson would not comment on whether the Queensland government would cover any funding gap.