Commonwealth Bushfire Relief and Recovery Funding Factsheet
Helping Australians recover from the 2019-20 bushfires is a national priority.
The Australian Government has committed more than $2 billion to the National Bushfire Recovery Fund (NBRF).
The Australian Government has committed money from the NBRF to the bushfire recovery programs on the list below. To help get this money to people fast, in many instances we’ve asked State and Territory Governments to use the systems and processes they already have to implement these programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. We’ve flagged in the table below which programs are delivered at the State/Territory level.
This includes systems and processes to assess applications and provide direct support.
We’ve also asked charities to share some of the money with communities as emergency relief. This money is managed separately to public donations.
This approach has worked well to make sure support is rolled out quickly. We’ll keep working with our partners to find ways to make the systems and processes better and cut red tape.
We’ve spent more than $1.5 billion from the NBRF so far. This money has either already been spent or is being reimbursed to State and Territory Governments for help they deliver on our behalf.
The Australian Government has also used other existing disaster support funding mechanisms including disaster recovery payments and allowances, to provide an additional $662 million to communities.
This means $2.2 billion from Australian taxpayers is already being used where it is needed.
We’ll roll-out funding over the next two years. This means people and communities:
- have time to think about what they need to recover
- can get support at their own pace for what they need.
These figures are based on reporting provided to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency as at 31 January 2021. These numbers do not reflect end-of-financial-year reconciliations.
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Program | Funding |
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Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) including debris clean-upUnder the DRFA, the Australian Government gives funding directly to State and Territory Governments to help pay for specific disaster relief and recovery assistance. This is managed on a reimbursement basis, which means the States/Territories need to spend their own money first and then we will repay it. Over 4,900 properties have been cleared under this program. All residential properties in South Australia and Victoria have been cleared. In New South Wales, clean-up of most residential properties is complete. More information: Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018 |
Allocated: $445.9 million initially (demand driven). Bushfire-affected properties cleared under this program
|
$62 million for immediate bushfire assistance to Local GovernmentsThis funding was given to bushfire-affected councils to:
Many local councils have projects underway to:
More information: Media Release - Immediate financial support for bushfire affected communities |
Allocated: $62 million. 100 per cent spent (provided to local councils). Funding for this program was fully allocated in 2019-20. Councils have until 30 June 2022 to deliver projects. |
$53.4 million to support the mental health of Australians affected by bushfiresThis funding gives immediate counselling and ongoing mental and emotional wellbeing support to individuals, families, and communities. Most of the funding will be available in the 2020-21 financial year. This is when we expect more communities to look for mental health support as they move out of the relief phase into the recovery phase. More information: Media Release - Immediate mental health services deployed into fire affected communities |
Allocated: $53.4 million. 42 per cent spent so far. The rest of this money will help this support keep going to 2021-22. |
$50 million for extra emergency relief delivered by charities, plus financial counsellingThis funding included:
More information: Media Release - Delivering more immediate support to Australians impacted by bushfires |
Allocated: $50 million. 100 per cent spent (provided to charities and service providers). Funding for this program was fully allocated in 2019-20. |
Back-to-school supportThe Additional Payment for Children (back-to-school support) gave an extra $400 to a child’s main carer to help with their education expenses. The child’s main carer was paid automatically if their child was:
Over 88,000 claims were paid. |
Allocated: $34 million initially (demand driven). 100 per cent spent. Funding for this program was made available 2019-20. |
Assistance for families in bushfire-affected areasFamilies living in bushfire-affected areas won’t have to worry about the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) activity test debt they might have in the 2019-20 financial year. |
Allocated: Up to $25.9 million. Spent: CCS activity test debt is worked out at the end of each financial year. |
$15.9 million for mental health support for emergency services workersThis funding gives emergency service workers and their families additional support services at no cost. It builds on the pool of services already available so they can access specialised support when they’re ready. Emergency service workers can also access the free counselling and wellbeing supports for bushfire recovery that are in place. The funding delivers:
Support services are now available. The national action plan will be in place by 1 July 2021. More details: Media Release - Immediate mental health services deployed into fire affected communities and Media Release - $11.5 million in mental health grants to support emergency services workers affected by the bushfires |
Allocated: $15.9 million. 84 per cent spent so far. This funding is available to 2021-22 to ensure that emergency service workers and their families can access support when they are ready. |
Compensation for volunteer firefightersThis funding has supported volunteer firefighters who lost income while being called out for long periods of volunteer service. Support has been provided to more than 3,200 volunteers. More information: Media Release - New payments to support NSW volunteer firefighters |
Allocated: $15 million initially (demand driven). Uptake of compensation for volunteer firefighters Funding for this program was made available for 2019-20. * This chart has been updated since the previous published chart to reflect revised approvals from the states and territories. The allocation has been adjusted to reflect demand to 30 June 2020. Unspent funds have been reallocated to support the Emergency Bushfire Response in Primary Industries Grants Program.
|
$13.5 million for more community wellbeing supportThis funding will boost emotional and mental wellbeing support for people affected by the bushfires. Support is delivered locally. More information: Media Release - Boost for Bushfire Recovery |
Allocated: $13.5 million. 50 per cent spent so far. The rest of this money will help this service keep going to 2021-22. |
$8.7 million for legal assistance services to support bushfire relief and recoveryThis funding supports:
Funding has been provided to states to support existing legal assistance services operating in bushfire-affected communities. |
Allocated: $8.7 million. 100 per cent spent. Funding for this program has been fully allocated to states. |
$8 million for mental health support for early learning and school communitiesThis funding is for coordinating mental health support for local schools and early childhood education and care services in bushfire-affected communities. Officers are working with early childhood education and care services and schools. The priority regions are:
More information: Support for bushfire-affected communities |
Allocated: $8 million. 100 per cent spent. This service continues throughout 2020-21. |
Up to $2 million for wellbeing support for school communitiesThis funding helped the National School Chaplaincy Program to deliver chaplaincy support in bushfire-affected schools. This program has provided funding to:
|
Allocated: Up to $2 million. 100 per cent spent. Funding for this program was fully allocated in 2019-20. |
Program | Funding |
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$448.5 million Local Economic Recovery and Complementary Projects FundThis funding will support:
We will oversee this program in partnership with state, territory, and local governments. State and Territory Governments will:
You can keep up-to-date with projects on our Local recovery projects web page. More information: Media Release - Boost for Bushfire Recovery |
Allocated: $448.5 million. A further $250 million in grants for the NSW Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Program is under assessment and $14.6 million for the next round of the Victoria Local Community Projects Grants opens on 15 March 2021. 33 per cent so far. |
$10,000 grants for small businessThis funding gives grants to small businesses:
So far, grants have been approved for more than 21,200 small businesses under this program. State and Territory Governments deliver the grants, and we provide oversight. More information: Media Release - Red tape cut, access easier for bushfire affected-small businesses |
Allocated: $234 million initially (demand driven). Uptake of $10,000 grants for small business
|
Emergency Bushfire Response in Primary Industries Grants ProgramThis funding is for primary producers (e.g. farmers, fishers, foresters, grape growers and apiarists) located in declared bushfire-affected areas. Over 2,800 primary producers have been approved for grants under this program. More information: Media Release - Initial $100 million bushfire emergency support for primary producers and Media Release - Further support for primary producers and small business |
Allocated: $141 million initially (demand driven)* Uptake of primary industries grants program |
$76 million for bushfire recovery in the tourism sectorThis funding helps tourism recovery for bushfire-affected regions including:
Some activities under this program have been adjusted due to COVID-19 restrictions. The domestic marketing campaign, ‘Holiday Here This Year’, and media hosting activities have now resumed. Regional tourism grants have now closed and successful applications are being finalised. More information: Media Release - Rebuilding Australian tourism |
Allocated: $76 million. 52 per cent spent so far. While spending has been interrupted by COVID-19, the rest of this money will help this support keep going in 2020-21. |
$50,000 small business grants and concessional loans up to $500,000This funding covers:
Small business grants are for businesses and organisations that have sustained direct fire or smoke damage as a result of the fires. A concessional loan has better terms than other standard loans you might get. This can include, but is not limited to:
This funding is for small businesses, including primary producers and non-profit groups, that have suffered significant:
More than 2,100 businesses have been approved for small business recovery grants worth over $57 million. More than 500 small businesses and primary producers have been approved for concessional loans. Grants and loans are delivered by State and Territory Governments. More information: Media Release - Immediate small business support for bushfire affected communities |
Allocated: $68.4 million initially for small business grants (demand driven). Concessional loans do not have an allocation because the money will be repaid. Uptake of small business grants and concessional loans
** This is total loans approved, not direct and immediate payments made from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund |
$41 million to create a Forestry Recovery Development FundThis funding will support the recovery of forestry processing businesses and jobs in bushfire-affected communities. More information: Media Release - Rebuilding relief for Australia’s primary producers |
Allocated: $41 million. 100 per cent spent.
|
$31 million for bushfire-affected apple growersThis funding will help with the re-establishment and repair of damaged or destroyed apple orchards or perennial apple trees. So far, 20 apple growers have been approved for grants (an average of almost $1 million each). More information: Media Release - Rebuilding relief for Australia’s primary producers |
Allocated: $31 million. 62 per cent spent so far. |
$15 million for the Rural Financial Counselling ServiceThis funding is to boost services in bushfire-affected areas through the engagement of 60 rural financial counsellors and support workers. To date, 38 full-time counsellors and support staff have been deployed to bushfire-affected areas. More information: Media Release - Initial $100 million bushfire emergency support for primary producers |
Allocated: $15 million. 75 per cent spent so far. The rest of this money will help this support keep going to 2021-22. |
$15 million for forestry industriesThis funding will help with the additional transport costs of moving salvaged burnt logs to out-of-range processing mills and storage. More information: Media Release - Boost for Bushfire Recovery |
Allocated: $15 million. This program is still open in NSW. Applications continue to roll-in. 18 per cent spent so far. |
$12.8 million for Expert Business FacilitatorsThis funding allows expert business facilitators to visit bushfire-affected areas and help businesses plan their next steps. These advisors will work closely with Chambers of Commerce and local businesses. Advisors are already on-the-ground and assisting businesses. More information: Media Release - Red tape cut, access easier for bushfire-affected small businesses |
Allocated: $12.8 million. Services are being delivered in 32 Local Government Areas. The remaining funding will allow this service to continue to 2021-22. All applications for assistance have been supported. 14 per cent spent so far. The rest of this money will help this service keep going to 2021-22. |
$5.7 million for wine grape producersGrants of up to $10,000 will be given to wine grape producers affected by smoke taint but who are located outside of disaster declared local government areas. So far, more than 60 wine grape producers have been approved for grants. More information: Media Release - Rebuilding relief for Australia’s primary producers |
Allocated: $5.7 million. Applications have now closed, and a small number of applications are still under consideration. The program targets areas that were not directly impacted by fire. Primary producer grants assist other wine grape producers in fire impacted areas. 11 per cent spent so far. |
$3.5 million for financial counselling for small businesses in bushfire-affected communitiesThis funding is supporting a dedicated financial support line and employment of 12 financial counsellors. Small businesses can now call 1800 413 828 for up-to-date and comprehensive information about:
More information: Media Release - Immediate small business support for bushfire affected communities |
Allocated: $3.5 million. 34 per cent spent so far. The rest of this money will help this service keep going in 2021-22. |
Program | Funding |
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$27.1 million for Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND)This program includes $27.1 million from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund with an additional $10 million from the Mobile Black Spot Program - $37.1 million in total. This funding will strengthen the resilience of Australia’s telecommunications networks, to help prevent, mitigate, and manage outages during future natural disasters, including:
More information: Media Release – Strengthening Telecommunications Emergency Resilience, and Communications in emergencies and www.communications.gov.au/stand |
Allocated: $27.1 million. 44 per cent spent so far. |
$20 million for additional fire-fighting aircraftThis funding provided extra aerial firefighting capabilities, including aircraft. More information: Media Release - Bushfire relief and recovery |
Allocated: $20 million. 100 per cent spent. Funding for this program finished in 2019-20. |
Program | Funding |
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$149.7 million for bushfire recovery for native wildlife and habitatsThis funding will support more action where it is needed to help the recovery of native wildlife and their habitats across eastern and southern Australia. It builds on the Australian Government’s initial $53.4 million investment for immediate wildlife rescue and recovery and includes:
More information: Media Release - Boost for Bushfire Recovery |
Allocated: $149.7 million. 54 per cent spent so far. |
$53.4 million for immediate wildlife rescue and recoveryThis funding supports emergency actions for fire-affected wildlife and habitats. It includes:
More information: Media Release - $50 million for emergency wildlife and habitat recovery |
Allocated: $53.4 million. 100 per cent spent so far. |
Evaluation and lessons learnedThis funding will support the evaluation of the Black Summer recovery, and provide a list of important lessons learnt. All levels of government can use this disaster recovery evidence to build on existing processes and work out the best ways to respond to natural disasters in the future. |
Allocated: $1.3 million. 15 per cent spent so far. |
In addition to the programs listed above, the Australian Government has other existing support available to communities impacted by disasters.
An extra $662 million in Commonwealth funding is available to communities affected by the 2019-20 bushfires.
This includes:
- $68.4 million under Operation Bushfire Assist.
- $11 million for extra fire-fighting aircraft in 2019 and 2020, on top of the regular funding of around $15 million per year.
- $565.9 million in Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments, Disaster Recovery Allowance (including the ex-Gratia equivalents), and other funding under the joint Commonwealth-State Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
- $2 million for Lifeline Australia and Kids Helpline.
- $7.4 million supporting youth through headspace.
- $5 million for research projects to investigate the physiological and mental health effects of bushfires.
- $2.2 million for storage facilities for processed timber products, fire-affected logs, and other forestry products.
The Australian Government has also provided $88.1 million over 12 years from 2020-21 to transition to a new National Research Centre for Disaster Resilience, which will deliver and scale-up applied research to inform Australia’s disaster recovery and resilience effort.
Total allocated under the NBRF
$2.1 billion
Total spent from the NBRF so far
$1.5 billion. This includes $471.8 million to be reimbursed or reconciled.
Total spent from all sources
$2.2 billion
Please note: We have based these figures on reports provided by responsible agencies. The funding reported may be different from other published amounts due to:
- rounding
- updated costings
- disaggregation of funding across portfolios and programs.