A new national disaster agency will help prepare Australia for future disasters and ensure emergency support has the biggest possible impact, Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.

“The new National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA) will let us co-ordinate so services can wrap around communities quickly and stop them fading away. 

 “The Business Council established BizRebuild to ensure practical and targeted assistance could help bushfire devastated small and local businesses to get back on their feet.

“One of our first lessons was that harnessing the unprecedented support of governments and businesses required careful national co-ordination.

 “That’s why our submission to the Royal Commission recommended a national coordinating body like the NRRA that can get the right support to the right places.

 “We look forward to working with the NRRA to support disaster effected regions, help rebuild local economies and make these vibrant communities even stronger for the future.”