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List of disasters

This document provides a list of declared disasters.

Last updated 17 March 2022

In response to a disaster you may wish to collect funds or make donations to help victims. This page provides a list of declared disasters.

See also

Australian disaster relief fund list

For a fund to be eligible for endorsement as an Australian disaster relief fund, the disaster must meet various legal requirements.

The disasters meeting these legal requirements are listed below.

Tax deductions for donations to these funds can usually only be claimed for the first two years after the disaster is declared.

Disaster relief fund list

Name of disaster

Start date for tax deductible gifts

Government declaration

Townsville floods

31 January 2019

Townville schools to close tomorrow as disaster declaration madeExternal Link

Bushfires – NSW

11 November 2019

Premier declares State of Emergency in NSW

Bushfires – The Duck Pond fire, South Australia

11 November 2019

South Australian bushfires declared disasters for the purpose of tax-deductible donations to bushfire relief fundsExternal Link

Bushfires – The Yorketown fire, South Australia

20 November 2019

South Australian bushfires declared disasters for the purpose of tax-deductible donations to bushfire relief fundsExternal Link

Bushfires – The Cudlee Creek, Kangaroo Island and Angle Vale fires, South Australia

20 December 2019

South Australian bushfires declared disasters for the purpose of tax-deductible donations to bushfire relief fundsExternal Link

Bushfires – The Keilira fire, South Australia

30 December 2019

South Australian bushfires declared disasters for the purpose of tax-deductible donations to bushfire relief fundsExternal Link

Bushfires – Victoria

2 January 2020

Victorian Government Declares A State Of DisasterExternal Link

Bushfires – ACT

31 January 2020

State of Emergency declared for ACTExternal Link

COVID-19 Pandemic

18 March 2020

Assistant Minister Seselja declared the COVID-19 pandemic across Australia a disaster for the purpose of establishing Australian disaster relief funds as DGRsExternal Link

Queensland and New South Wales floods

22 February 2022

Income Tax Assessment (Australian Disaster Relief Funds) Declaration 2022External Link

If the disaster you wish to collect funds for is not listed here, direct your enquiries to the relevant state of territory authority.

Relevant state of territory authority list

State/territory

Authority

Phone

Website

New South Wales

Emergency Management NSW

(02) 8247 5900

emergency.nsw.gov.auExternal Link

Northern Territory

Northern Territory Treasury

(08) 8999 7406

treasury.nt.gov.auExternal Link

Queensland

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

(07) 3224 2111

premiers.qld.gov.auExternal Link

South Australia

Security and Emergency Management Commission

(08) 8463 4056

safecom.sa.gov.auExternal Link

Tasmania

Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet

1300 135 513

dpac.tas.gov.auExternal Link

Victoria

Emergency Management Victoria

(03) 8684 7900

emc.vic.gov.auExternal Link

Western Australia

Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia

(08) 9323 9300

dfes.wa.gov.auExternal Link

Developed country disaster relief fund list

For a fund to be eligible for endorsement as a developed country disaster relief fund, the disaster must be recognised by a Treasury minister as a disaster.

Tax deductions for donations to these funds can usually only be claimed for the first two years after the disaster is declared.

There are no current developed country disasters recognised by a Treasury minister.


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