Today, the Albanese Government is hosting the second National Preparedness Summit ahead of the upcoming Higher-Risk Weather Season (HRWS), where the country faces a dry and hot season.
The Minister for Emergency Management will join over 250 crisis management, response and recovery specialists from governments, industry, community and the not-for-profit sector who are attending the two-day event convened by the Government's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Participants will be briefed by the Bureau of Metrology on the national seasonal outlook for the HRWS. With parts of Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Victoria facing an increased risk of bushfire this spring, NEMA is also preparing for the likelihood of more severe weather like the storms experienced across southern Australia earlier this month.
The Summit will war game a range of scenarios based on the seasonal outlook and Bureau of Meteorology long-range weather forecast.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the government is working with all states and territories as well as the business community to prepare ahead of the High-Risk Weather Season.
"Since 2022 half of all local government areas have experienced disaster, some of them more than once. This Summit brings together all levels of government, first responders, business and non-government organisations to prepare and plan for the season ahead."
"By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices with state and territory government and key organisations, we are building resilience so that our communities are better prepared."
"The National Preparedness Summit is essential for sharing critical information about the higher risk weather season and ensuring our systems can handle multiple and cascading disaster events."
"We can no longer afford to work in isolation. Government, business and community need to work together to plan and respond to the more frequent and more intense weather events. The Summit builds on our government's commitment to co-operation."
Since our last Summit, actions to improve the way Australia prepares for the higher risk weather season include:
- Increasing Aerial Firefighting investment.
- Investing $111,457,971 in bushfire mitigation and preparedness through the second round of the Government's flagship Disaster Ready Fund.
- Holding 75 National Coordination Mechanisms including briefings to priority sectors: Aged Care, Disability, Media, Industry and Local Governments.
- Launching the National Emergency Management Stockpile Standing Offer Panel and continuing to build on the physical stockpile.
- Delivering Exercise Aurora-bringing together Australian governments and industry for a space weather simulation.
- Delivering of Crisis Appreciation and Strategic Planning training across Australian and state and territory governments.
