Future of Resilience NSW disaster agency in doubt

A day after Shane Fitzsimmons defended Resilience NSW’s billion-dollar budget, it can be revealed the future of the disaster agency is in doubt.

The future of the controversial billion-dollar Resilience NSW agency hangs in the balance amid continued criticism about its role.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that one of the main programs funded by the agency has been an initiative to send “campaign packs” to local councils to help them tell constituents how to prepare for local disasters. The packs included a “calendar of disaster resilience and preparedness events,” along with social media templates.

Among the 44 council areas that have received one of the agency’s “Get Ready” campaign packs over the past 22 months to help prepare for disasters are those worst-hit by the flooding including Lismore, Hawkesbury and Upper Hunter, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

NSW Resilience Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has defended his agency’s massive budget. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

The agency was created by former premier Gladys Berejiklian, but it is understood that former Deputy Premier John Barilaro and then-Treasurer Perrottet were opposed. Resilience NSW also spent $49,677,000 on payments to “suppliers and employees” and $24,028,000 on “employee related expenses” between its inception in May 2020 and October 2021, according to its annual report.

Among its projects, Resilience NSW has funded the “Get Ready” program under which it sends “campaign packs” to councils which include personalised logos, social media and media release templates, posters and other material “so they can assist communities to prepare for disasters”.

Among the councils who have received these packs are Lismore, Bellingen, Kempsey, Hawkesbury Kyogle, Upper Hunter and the Northern Beaches and Clarence Valley which have all lost been smashed by the weather bomb.

It’s understood Dominic Perrottet initially opposed the creation of the agency. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Lives and hundreds of homes and businesses have been lost despite the “campaign packs”.

A wide-ranging review of the government’s response to the flooding, promised by Premier Perrottet, is expected to include an assessment of how effective Resilience NSW has been in preparation for the disaster.

However The Telegraph has been told that the efforts of the agency on the ground have been warmly welcomed by locals.

Resilience NSW chief Shane Fitzsimmons this week defended his agency against criticism of its massive $1.4 billion budget, saying 90 per cent of it went on grants.

One Nation MP Mark Latham said it was a waste of money and its work in co-ordinating disaster recovery should be passed on to the State Emergency Service, which also leads disaster response.

“There is no evidence that Resilience NSW has made NSW any more resilient,” Mr Latham said.

He said the state already had the SES, Rural Fire Service, which had been led by Mr Fitzsimmons, Fire and Rescue NSW, police, local councils and the defence forces.

“For goodness sake put one agency in charge. The more agencies you create, the more confusion you create,” Mr Latham said.

Opposition spokesman for emergency services Jihad Dib said some “tough decisions” had to be made in the wake of the flooding disaster.

“I think everything should be considered,” he said.

A spokesman for Resilience NSW said yesterday that the Get Ready kits also included “an engagement toolkit for councils to use to raise awareness of disaster preparedness for their residents and businesses (including) user guide, Get Ready disaster preparedness messages and collateral and calendar of disaster resilience and preparedness events”.