Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Funding Assistance
Natural disaster management is constitutionally a State and Territory responsibility. Each jurisdiction determines the criteria and level of assistance provided to individuals and communities affected by a natural disaster.
The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) do not provide funding directly to individuals or communities. Through the NDRRA the Australian Government reimburses eligible relief and recovery costs to States and Territories. The NDRRA Determination 2007 outlines what costs are reimbursable to States and Territories through the NDRRA. For more information go to the NDRRA Guidelines page.
Eligible funding measures
The following funding assistance is available through the NDRRA to States and Territories:
Assistance for individuals
The Australian Government will reimburse 50 per cent of State or Territory expenditure on personal hardship and distress (PHD) assistance.
PHD expenditure is funding generally used for emergency:
- clothing
- food
- accommodation
- repairs to housing
- replacement of essential household items and personal effects.
Assistance for communities
The Australian Government may also reimburse 50 to 75 per cent of State or Territory expenditure on measures including:
- restoration or replacement of essential public infrastructure (such as roads or bridges)
- concessional interest rate loans to small businesses, primary producers, voluntary non-profit bodies and needy individuals
In severe events, funding for a community recovery package is available to help affected communities recover. Activation of a community recovery package requires agreement by the Prime Minister and State Premier or Territory Chief Minister.
The community recovery package may include the following assistance measures:
- Community recovery funds to help restore social networks and community facilities
- Small business recovery grants to assist with clean-up and recovery costs
- Primary producer recovery grants to assist with clean-up and recovery costs.
Other assistance
A range of other assistance may also be made available to meet the particular circumstances of a natural disaster. For more information on eligible funding measures available to the States and Territories under NDRRA, please see the NDRRA Guidelines or contact Emergency Management Australia (EMA).