Disaster and Emergency Services Reform
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About
The Queensland Government is currently delivering a suite of reforms to Queensland's disaster and emergency management system.
Independent review and government response
In July 2021, the Queensland Government commissioned KPMG to conduct an independent review of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) (KPMG Review) and its associated volunteer services. The goal of the review was to ensure long-term sustainability of emergency services for Queenslanders. This included assessing the existing scope, functions and suitability of the QFES structure, and its funding arrangements.
In late 2022, the Queensland Government released its response to the KPMG Review – Good jobs and better fire and emergency services. Multiple recommendations made by the review were accepted in principle by the Queensland Government to address function, structure, culture, efficiency, funding, and sustainability. This included commitments to transition primary responsibility for disaster management from QFES to the Queensland Police Service (QPS), with some functions coming to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), and for the Inspector-General of Emergency Management (IGEM) to conduct a review of Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements (QDMA Review). These recommendations are to be implemented by 30 June 2024.
The KPMG Review – Good jobs and better fire and emergency services, included recommendations to:
- establish a new Queensland Fire Department
- establish a new entity, Marine Rescue Queensland, bringing together coast guard and marine rescue activities
- transition primary responsibility for Disaster Management from QFES to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and expanding the QPS to incorporate additional disaster management functions, including the State Emergency Services and Marine Rescue Queensland
- for the Inspector-General of Emergency Management to conduct a review of Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements (QDMA Review)
- boost capability and capacity for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to improve resilience.
QRA’s expanded responsibilities
There are a number of recommendations that apply to QRA as a result of the reviews.
For QRA, the reforms mean expanded prevention, mitigation and preparedness responsibilities. QRA’s existing roles and functions in resilience and recovery will remain.
In particular, a number of disaster management functions (and particular projects) transitioned from the responsibility of the former QFES to QRA on 30 June 2024.
As of 1 July 2024, QRA is responsible for:
- state-level Hazard and Risk functions, including the requirement to design and deliver a risk assessment tool
- certain Community Engagement and Education projects and activities relating to preparedness
- certain Community Awareness Campaigns and activities (including the expansion of QRA’s Get Ready Queensland brand in October 2023 to include the If It’s Flooded, Forget It campaign)
QRA is actively analysing how to evolve and mature Queensland's current risk management approach and methodology to ensure it is flexible, contemporary and accessible. This may involve a broadening of how risk management is currently approached within Queensland. QRA will continue to work collaboratively across government to ensure state hazard and risk is well understood and informs community risk profiles, as well as mitigation initiatives for resilience building, particularly in the face of climate change.
To support the incoming function, QRA has commenced the enhancement of our internal Hazard Risk Management capability, combining our well-established Flood Risk Management and Geographic Information System (GIS) Teams, to ensure an ability to mature and deliver this state function and the programs of work transitioning.
QRA will continue to promote natural disaster preparedness messaging through the Get Ready Queensland brand. For severe weather preparedness information please refer to the Get Ready Queensland website.
More information
For the latest updates please visit the Disaster and Emergency Services Reform website at:
