Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

NSW Reconstruction Authority and the 2025 East Coast severe weather event

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the Authority powers to direct resilience action statewide, and planning powers

to compulsory acquire land, and manage or carry out work on this land.9

1.5 The Authority is not responsible for emergency response or management of

disasters, which is led by the State Emergency Operations Controller and

emergency service agencies such as State Emergency Service (SES).

Reviewing the operations of the Authority

1.6 Under section 93(3)(b) of the Act, the Joint Select Committee on the NSW

Reconstruction Authority (the Committee) is required to review 'the operations

of the Authority regarding any disaster in relation to which the Authority

exercises functions'.

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1.7 This is the Committee's first report as part of this ongoing statutory function. It

focuses on the Authority's response to the May 2025 East Coast severe weather

event. It also considers the operations of the Authority in relation to a number of

other disasters that have taken place since 2022, as well as key functions of the

Authority such as:

- communication and engagement with local communities, including

building community capacity and resilience to disasters

- preparedness and adaptation activities, and any use of its planning powers

under the Act

- the implementation of funding schemes, such as joint Disaster Recovery

Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

1.8 The Committee's previous inquiry reviewed the Act and made recommendations

to amend section 93 of the Act, specifically in relation to the Committee.

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Recommendation Three included:

- clarifying the timing of the Committee's review function

- expanding the scope of the Committee's review function to include

disaster prevention, preparedness and adaptation

- amending references to the Committee to reflect the ongoing statutory

role of the Committee.

1.9 The Committee notes that on 25 March 2026, the Hon Jihad Dib, Minister for

Emergency Services, introduced the Emergency Services Legislation Amendment

Bill 2026.

12 The Bill proposes to amend the Act to implement recommendations

from the Committee's statutory review report, including changes to the

Committee's review function and its expanded scope.

9 NSW Reconstruction Authority, Annual report 2024-2025, p 8.

10 NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, s 93(3)(b).

11 Joint Select Committee on NSW Reconstruction Authority, Review of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022,

report 1/58, Parliament of New South Wales, 28 November 2024.

12 Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.