24th Nov 2016, 12:15 PM – Senate Motions - Disaster Risk Reduction - Acknowledge importance

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Tasmanian Labor Senator Anne Urquhart.

These motions don't have legal force but represent the opinion of the Senate.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) from 2009-2013, Australia was one of the world leaders in Disaster Risk Reduction, and

(ii) in 2013, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) praised Australia as a 'lead donor and potential role model in Disaster Risk Reduction';

(b) recognises that Disaster Risk Reduction protects lives and livelihoods, protects development gains, and is cost-effective, in that the World Bank estimates that every $1 invested in Disaster Risk Reduction saves $7 in disaster response and recovery costs; and

(c) acknowledges that:

(i) Australia's investment in Disaster Risk Reduction has decreased; so that; between 2014 and 2016, Disaster Risk Reduction spending was reduced from around 3 per cent of the total aid program to less than 1.4 per cent of a dramatically reduced aid program, and

(ii) with the severity of natural disasters increasing in the Asia-Pacific region, it has never been more important to help our neighbours build resilience to disasters.