Author: Monica Taylor, PhD Candidate in climate justice, Queensland University of Technology

This week, a Senate committee examining Australia’s disaster resilience tabled its long-awaited report in parliament. The 151-page report makes ten recommendations. These concern funding arrangements, mental health supports, emergency volunteering models, and the need to establish a national asset register. Overall, the report captures a broad selection of issues in disaster management. It acknowledges the views and perspectives of many stakeholders. However, its recommendations largely focus on volunteers involved in the immediate disaster response. This will not make Australians more resilient to disasters, because communities need long-term support to develop their capacity to bounce back. Deeper structural reform is required.…