The Albanese Government is further strengthening Australia's preparedness for natural disasters with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
The MOU comes ahead of the 2024-25 High-Risk Weather Season, strengthening our deep relationship and providing Australian communities with an additional level of reassurance and support, should they be impacted by disaster.
Australians have already benefited from the strong relationship between Australia and Singapore. The SCDF helped during the 2022 Eastern Australia Floods, through deployment of two Flood Rescue Technician teams who integrated with NSW SES and NSW Fire & Rescue.
This partnership with Singapore builds on other existing international memoranda of understanding Australia has with Public Safety Canada, New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the United States of America.
The MOU was signed in Singapore on Wednesday by National Emergency Management Coordinator-General Brendan Moon and Commissioner SCDF Eric Yap Wee Teck.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister said in-depth cooperation with Australia's international partners is key to broadening and strengthening our regional preparedness, response and recovery strategies.
"This is the latest demonstration of the many ways the Albanese Government is building Commonwealth emergency response capability.
"Singapore is one of Australia's closest friends and partners. This is another example of the shared respect and partnership between us.
"Many Australian communities have already benefited from our partnership with the SCDF during the 2022 Floods. This MOU strengthens mutual capability and will support communities during catastrophic events.
"The Albanese Government will continue to develop relationships with key international emergency management organisations to build our national and regional crisis response."
Vision of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) assisting during the 2022 floods can be found on the NSW State Emergency Services website.
