COUNCILS from across Western Queensland have voted unanimously to reject Canberra’s controversial changes to disaster funding arrangements.
At this week’s Western Queensland Alliance of Councils Assembly in Brisbane, a show of hands reflected the mood in the room, reminding the Albanese Government that local government won’t tolerate a planned 50-50 funding split between the Feds and the States.
Even State Labor in Queensland is against the move, putting them at odds with Labor’s Federal Minister Kristy McBain, who despite mounting criticism, addressed the Assembly in front of delegates representing 25 councils from the NSW border in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north.
Paroo Shire Council Mayor Suzette Beresford says the fight with Canberra is worth it, considering the financial implications for bush councils far and wide.
“NSW are against it too,” explains Cr Beresford, who was joined in Brisbane by a who’s who of local government in Western Queensland including fellow Mayors ‘Zoro’ Radnedge (Murweh), Ben Hall (Quilpie), ‘Tractor’ Ferguson (Bulloo) and Samantha O’Toole (Balonne).
“There’s a big campaign by the Local Government Association of Queensland and all member Councils are behind that campaign as well as Councils from NSW.”
Unless there is a backflip by the Feds, it’s expected that Queensland councils will make it an election issue at the next poll, likely to be held in early 2028.
PHOTO: Murweh Mayor Zoro Radnedge at the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils Assembly with WQAC executive officer Greg Hoffman.
POSTED: Thursday, August 27, 2026