The Queensland Government has widened the role of the state’s reconstruction authority to include improving disaster resilience.

Parliament has passed the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Amendment Bill 2013, changing the definition of a disaster and extending the authority’s remit.

The bill says the changes “provide the QRA with a stronger focus on disaster resilience” and “reflect the Government’s emphasis on improved disaster resilience in implementing its reconstruction program”.

Community Recovery and Resilience Minister David Crisafulli says it is impossible to flood-proof the state, but “we can do a better job at building more durable infrastructure”.

“If an asset has been replaced over and over again, it’s time we look at building it differently or in a better location,” he said. “It’s time to rebuild with a view to the future, not the past.”

The definition of a disaster has been extended to cover the storms, floods and tornadoes such as those resulting from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald, giving the QRA jurisdiction to exercise its reconstruction powers over the event.