About DRFA and eligible disasters
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What is the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)?
The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) is a joint funding initiative of the Australian and state governments to provide disaster relief and recovery payments and infrastructure restoration to help communities recover from the effects of natural disasters and terrorist acts. In Queensland, this program is managed on a whole‑of‑government basis by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).
Definition of an eligible disaster
A natural disaster or terrorist act for which:
- a coordinated multi-agency response was required, and
- state expenditure exceeds the Commonwealth’s small disaster criterion, which is set at $240,000 for 2024‑25.
DRFA eligible disasters
DRFA eligible disasters include:
- bushfire
- cyclone
- earthquake
- flood
- meteor strike
- landslip
- storm
- storm surge
- terrorist act
- tornado
- tsunami.
Activation of DRFA
In Queensland, the Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers is responsible for activating the DRFA. The DRFA activation relies on the damage, loss and personal hardship information provided by state agencies and local governments.
Activation of the DRFA allows for eligible expenditure to be reimbursed by QRA to activated state agencies and local governments, and for loans to be disbursed to eligible individuals, not‑for‑profit organisations, primary producers and small businesses. This is undertaken in compliance with the:
- Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) 2018, and
- Queensland Disaster Funding Guidelines (QDFG) 2024.
The DRFA can be activated when the event meets the definition of an eligible disaster.
Note: The activation of the DRFA is not dependent upon the declaration of a disaster situation. A declaration of a disaster situation is a separate action and provides extraordinary powers for the protection of the public during a disaster situation under the Disaster Management Act 2003.
The declaration of a disaster situation and/or the activation of the Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements and/or the activation of the DRFA are independent and are not interlinked or conditional, although they may occur for the same event.