The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), established in 2011 following a spate of unprecedented disaster events, is the lead agency responsible for disaster recovery, resilience, and flood risk management policy in Queensland. Since then, the state has experienced a significant increase in the frequency and severity of disaster events, with 2025 being one of the worst years on record— marked by three major rainfall and flooding events that impacted all corners of Queensland. To assist communities, QRA has developed a comprehensive governance and funding framework that prioritises long-term disaster and climate resilience. The effectiveness of having a central coordinating agency like QRA has drawn national attention, with other Australian states now seeking to replicate its model to strengthen their own recovery and resilience efforts.
This brief outlines some lessons and insights from QRA which are relevant for Southeast Asian infrastructure agencies, particularly in the transport sector, seeking to embed resilience more systematically into governance, planning, and budgeting systems.
