Queensland has put an extra $280 million over four years into high-priority disaster resilience and mitigation projects.

Last week’s state budget allocated $10 million for fiscal 2026, $60 million the following year and $110 million and $100 million in future years.

The cash is part of a total investment of $450 million over the next five years under the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund, which is also backed by the federal government.

“In a year in which our regions have borne the brunt of record floods, this budget will lay the foundations for future resilience from natural disasters,” state Treasurer David Janetzki said.

The NSW budget – which outlines $4.2 billion of relief for areas recovering from disasters in recent years – provides $63.2 million for the resilient lands program to unlock home and land options in safe places in the Northern Rivers area, and to support relocations.

The state also says it remains committed to reforming the emergency service levy, paid through insurance, after opening consultations last year on a property-based model.

“The NSW government continues to work to design a replacement levy that is budget-neutral, informed by detailed tax modelling and the views of industry and stakeholders in the wider community,” it said. 

The Insurance Council of Australia says without reform, NSW customers are forecast to pay $5.6 billion in ESL over the forward estimates.  

The Queensland and NSW governments project combined revenue of more than $21 billion from insurance-based taxes over the forward estimates, with both states forecast to collect almost $8 billion each in insurance stamp duty, ICA says.  

“The most immediate way to lower insurance premiums is through the removal of state insurance-based taxes, which are reaching record levels in both states,” ICA deputy CEO Kylie Macfarlane said.