Overview
New emergency management funding in the 2026–27 State Budget is heavily weighted toward the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), with limited benefit flowing to Local Governments despite their central role in preparedness, mitigation and response.
The additional $41.7 million in operational funding is largely directed to agency salaries and overtime, addressing cost pressures rather than tackling underlying system inefficiencies or reducing long term demand reducing through prevention, mitigation and building local capability.
The Budget includes $18.7 million for volunteer fleet replacement, $18.8 million for non-frontline measures to enhance volunteer support, and $2 million to upgrade DFES managed volunteer facilities. The State Government’s 2025 election commitment of $3.5 million over three years to fund an additional six Local Government Community Emergency Services Managers (CESMs) is continued, with no further commitment to additional CESMs. No new funding has been allocated to Local Government emergency management grant programs, including the Mitigation Activity Fund, Bushfire Risk Management Planning and AWARE programs.
WALGA Comment
WALGA is disappointed that the Budget delivers no meaningful new investment in the Local Government Grants Scheme (LGGS), despite funding shortfalls now exceeding $40 million per annum. While fleet replacement funding has been announced, it largely offsets rising input costs and does not address the Scheme’s structural funding gap. WALGA continues to call for LGGS reform to establish a minimum bushfire capability baseline, transparent funding streams, proportionate risk-based administration and partnered governance, supported by sustainable investment.
The $18.8 million allocated to enhance volunteer support is directed to DFES for non-frontline capability, despite Local Governments holding statutory responsibility for bushfire response across 92 per cent of the State’s land area and managing more than 111 Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades and over 18,000 bushfire volunteers, who make up the majority of Western Australia’s emergency services volunteers. While WALGA supports DFES leadership in volunteer safety, training and governance, this funding does not address Local Government resourcing and capacity pressures.
Similarly, funding to upgrade DFES managed facilities does not extend to Local Government owned Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade facilities, reinforcing a long-standing funding imbalance. This persists despite the Emergency Services Levy’s intent to fund services equitably, with Local Government managed brigades historically receiving significantly less funding on average than DFES managed brigades.
WALGA is also concerned that no new funding has been allocated to Local Government disaster risk reduction and mitigation programs despite increasing risk. Nearly half of Local Governments report that emergency management grants are insufficient, particularly smaller and regional councils. As disasters become more frequent and severe, Western Australia continues to rely on limited and fragmented funding, while other states have implemented dedicated programs to support Local Government led prevention and preparedness. WALGA calls for a dedicated Local Government Disaster Risk Reduction Fund to better align funding with risk and support community led resilience.
