(1) The Emergency Management Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth:
(a) make an arrangement with; or
(b) make a grant of financial assistance to;
a person or body for:
(c) the carrying out of a project that is directed towards achieving either or both of the following:
(i) recovery from a natural disaster;
(ii) post-disaster resilience in relation to an area that has been affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a natural disaster; or
(d) the provision of a service that is directed towards achieving either or both of the following:
(i) recovery from a natural disaster;
(ii) post-disaster resilience in relation to an area that has been affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a natural disaster; or
(e) the adoption of technology that is directed towards achieving either or both of the following:
(i) recovery from a natural disaster;
(ii) post-disaster resilience in relation to an area that has been affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a natural disaster; or
(f) a matter that is incidental or ancillary to a matter mentioned in paragraph (c), (d) or (e).
Note 1: For post-disaster resilience , see subsection (6).
Note 2: See also section 24 (constitutional limits).
(1A) The Emergency Management Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth:
(a) make an arrangement with; or
(b) make a grant of financial assistance to;
a person or body for:
(c) the carrying out of a project that is directed towards achieving any or all of the following:
(i) resilience to a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(ii) preparedness for a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(iii) reduction of the risk of a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(iv) the long-term sustainability of a community or communities in an area that is at risk of being affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a future natural disaster; or
(d) the provision of a service that is directed towards achieving any or all of the following:
(i) resilience to a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(ii) preparedness for a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(iii) reduction of the risk of a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(iv) the long-term sustainability of a community or communities in an area that is at risk of being affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a future natural disaster; or
(e) the adoption of technology that is directed towards achieving any or all of the following:
(i) resilience to a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(ii) preparedness for a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(iii) reduction of the risk of a future natural disaster that could affect an area (whether directly or indirectly);
(iv) the long-term sustainability of a community or communities in an area that is at risk of being affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a future natural disaster; or
(f) a matter that is incidental or ancillary to a matter mentioned in paragraph (c), (d) or (e).
Note: See also section 24 (constitutional limits).
(2) An arrangement under subsection (1) or (1A) may provide for the Commonwealth to reimburse, or partly reimburse, costs or expenses.
(3) A grant under subsection (1) or (1A) may be made by way of the reimbursement, or partial reimbursement, of costs or expenses.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not limit subsection (1) or (1A).
(5) Subsections (1) and (1A) do not authorise:
(a) the acquisition of shares in a company; or
(b) the making of a loan.
Post-disaster resilience in relation to an area that has been affected by a natural disaster
(6) For the purposes of this section, if:
(a) an area has been affected (whether directly or indirectly) by a natural disaster of a particular kind; and
(b) either:
(i) at least one arrangement has been made under subsection (1) in relation to recovery from the natural disaster; or
(ii) at least one grant has been made under subsection (1) in relation to recovery from the natural disaster;
each of the following is post-disaster resilience in relation to that area:
(c) resilience to a future natural disaster of that kind that could affect that area (whether directly or indirectly);
(d) preparedness for a future natural disaster of that kind that could affect that area (whether directly or indirectly);
(e) reduction of the risk of a future natural disaster of that kind that could affect that area (whether directly or indirectly);
(f) the long-term sustainability of a community or communities in that area.
Transitional
(7) This section does not apply to a natural disaster that occurred before the commencement of this section.