State Labor backs Western Queensland councils in fight against Federal disaster funding cuts

The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) has welcomed the strong, bipartisan support of Labor State Opposition Shadow Minister Nikki Boyd, who has formally backed Queensland councils in their fight against the Federal Labor Government’s proposed changes to disaster recovery funding.

Speaking at the 2026 WQAC Assembly at Brisbane City Hall, the Shadow Minister for Local Government, Water, Fire, Disaster Recovery, Emergency Services, and Volunteers said Queensland Labor is a resolute ally to local councils in resisting the planned federal reforms.

Addressing delegates from the bush, Ms Boyd revealed she recently led a delegation to Canberra to meet with Federal Minister Kristy McBain to outline the State Opposition's firm rejection of the proposed framework. The State Opposition has also written directly to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to formalise its opposition.

"The Labor Opposition has resolved to fight for our fairness of disaster recovery funding," Ms. Boyd said.

"As our nation's most decentralised and disaster-impacted state, our reality is different from any other jurisdiction. It is unique. For Queensland, disaster recovery is not a single event or season. It is constant, compounding, and cumulative."

Ms Boyd criticised the Commonwealth’s proposal, vowing to avoid shift costing onto local governments that are already stretched to their financial breaking points.

"You don't need a government that cost shifts onto you and then blames you for struggling to deliver," Ms. Boyd told the Assembly. "We will always stand up for our state."

The WQAC, representing 25 councils across 63 percent of Queensland's landmass, on Wednesday passed a unanimous motion calling on the Federal Government to immediately reverse the planned DRFA changes, warning they place local economies, key industries, and critical infrastructure under immediate threat.

The federal plan would reduce the Commonwealth's funding contribution to disaster response and recovery to a 50-50 split, drastically raise the activation threshold a disaster must meet before communities can receive help, and severely restrict councils' ability to "build back better" through betterment programs.

In addition to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with councils on disaster funding, Ms Boyd also threw her support behind WQAC’s newly released draft policy, Local Government Funding and Sustainability.

The draft policy advocates for a fair, predictable, and place-based funding framework for Western Queensland, including restoring federal Financial Assistance Grants to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue and shifting away from complex, competitive grant rounds toward reliable, untied allocative funding.

Ms Boyd commended the Alliance for its thorough and strategic approach to addressing the systemic financial challenges facing rural and remote councils.

"I'd like to really acknowledge the work that's gone into putting that together," Ms. Boyd said.

"It crystallises a lot of the discussions that have been happening through different departments and through different agencies over a long period of time.

"It would be far easier and far better for local government to be able to have more of that untied funding, more of that reliable funding to be able to really plan long term and have some certainty. We're actively considering your fair, predictable, place-based funding model and the common-sense requirements it contains."

WQAC executive officer Greg Hoffman PSM thanked Ms Boyd for her active engagement and valued partnership.

"Having the Queensland Labor Opposition actively championing our communities in Canberra and endorsing our draft funding policy is a powerful asset," he said.

-ENDS-

Greg Hoffman PSM, Executive Officer, WQAC - E: greg.hoffman@wqac.com.au, M: 0418 756 005