I am honoured to have been sworn in as Federal Minister for Emergency Management, and to be reappointed as Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.
In my maiden speech to Parliament, I committed to supercharging the response to bushfire recovery, after parts of our community in Eden-Monaro experienced some of the worst fires our country has ever seen.
I am incredibly proud to be part of a government that is serious about reducing disaster risk, and strengthening our emergency management and disaster recovery capabilities.
Under the leadership of Minster Watt and Minister McAllister, the Albanese Government has launched the National Emergency Management Agency and the Disaster Ready Fund, funded Disaster Relief Australia, established our National Emergency Management Stockpile, and expanded our National Aerial Firefighting capabilities.
We have delivered all 15 Commonwealth-led recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and we continue to boost the disaster resilience of our telecommunications networks.
I am humbled to continue the critical work of the Emergency Management portfolio alongside Assistant Minister Wilson, including progressing the National Messaging System.
I also look forward to continuing to work with Minister King to strengthen the local government sector, which is not only on the front line of disaster response and recovery, but responsible for many services our communities rely on.
I am proud to have brought local government back to the table as a trusted delivery partner - including at National Cabinet and through two successful Australian Council of Local Government forums - while increasing local road funding for every council and launching transparent grant programs that every community can apply for.
We remain committed to supporting councils, including through our response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Local Government Sustainability, which we will finalise this term.
I have always lived in our regions and love the quality of life it affords us, which is why I will continue standing up for Eden-Monaro and regional Australia to ensure we get our fair share.
