PASIN SLAMS LABOR'S SNEAKY DISASTER FUNDING CUTS

PASIN SLAMS LABOR'S SNEAKY DISASTER FUNDING CUTS

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin has slammed the Albanese Government's proposed changes to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), accusing Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain of using a classic Friday afternoon news dump to conceal a decision that will leave states, councils and local communities worse off when disaster strikes.

Mr Pasin said Australians rightly expect all levels of government to work together when disaster strikes.

"When communities are facing floods, bushfires or storms, the focus should be on helping people recover and rebuild, not shifting costs and walking away from responsibilities," Mr Pasin said.

"What makes this decision particularly concerning is the way it was announced."

"Minister McBain quietly released these changes late on a Friday afternoon after Parliament had finished sitting, ensuring there would be little scrutiny and no accountability."

"It reinforces again what Australians already know - Labor can’t be trusted.”

Mr Pasin said the Albanese Government's decision to reduce the Commonwealth's contribution to disaster recovery and resilience projects undermined a long-standing principle that larger disasters require greater Commonwealth support and would leave states, councils and local communities carrying a greater financial burden.

"Communities across Barker have seen firsthand how vital disaster recovery funding is in rebuilding roads, restoring essential infrastructure and helping families, businesses and communities recover after disaster strikes."

"The River Murray Flood recovery alone saw more than $194 million invested in assistance and recovery programs across affected communities."

"That recovery effort demonstrated exactly why Australia needs a scalable disaster funding model. Labor now wants to cap that support at 50 per cent regardless of the scale of the event."

"Under Labor's changes, communities who suffer a major natural disaster could be left waiting longer for repairs to roads, bridges and critical infrastructure while state governments and councils scramble to fill the funding gap."

Mr Pasin said the proposal was part of a concerning pattern of behaviour from the Albanese Government.

"Time and again Labor betrays the trust of the Australian people.”

"Regional Australians deserve better than a government that makes major decisions behind closed doors and hopes nobody notices."

Mr Pasin called on the Government to immediately reverse the changes and retain the existing scalable funding model.

"The solution is simple. Reverse these cuts and maintain a disaster funding framework that recognises larger disasters require greater Commonwealth support."

"Australians deserve a government that stands with them in their toughest moments, not one that cuts support, shifts costs and hopes nobody notices."