Labor pollies tell Dutton to back off from NEMA

Labor pollies have warned Dutton’s public service slashes could spell trouble for the Territory’s disaster preparedness. Read what they say.

Peter Dutton’s public service cuts could leave Territorians vulnerable to natural disasters, federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister has warned.

The grim prediction comes just days after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s backflip on public servant cuts, announcing 41,000 extra workers hired under Labor would instead be shrunk through natural attrition, not forced redundancies.

The opposition maintains it still wants to cut 41,000 federal public servants – the amount of workers hired since Labor came to office. Ms McAllister said these cuts could affect Territorians and key federal bodies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency.

“At the time when we know there will be more frequent and extreme weather events, Peter Dutton wants to cut the Commonwealth agency dedicated to keeping Territorians safe,” Ms McAllister said.

“I call on Peter Dutton to rule out any cuts to emergency management today.”

NEMA’s chief operation officer Vidoshi Jana told a budget estimates hearing on February 24 her agency had increased its staff by 135 since 2024-25.

She said a cut to these staff would have “a huge impact on (NEMA’s) ability to provide the standard services” that it delivers.

Ms Jana said the 135 staff were crucial and NEMA’s services “would not be able to be sustained in the long run should we not be provided with the 135 (additional staff)”.

Labor’s Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said Territorians were particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.

“Territorians living in remote communities are some of the most vulnerable to natural disasters,” Ms McCarthy said.