RED CROSS WORLD DISASTERS REPORT
17 June 2009
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the release of the World Disasters Report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The Report underlines the importance of focussing on cost-effective prevention measures and the need to incorporate climate risk management into disaster prevention and planning.
“The Rudd Government is strongly committed to ensuring the safety of Australians in all circumstances,” Mr McClelland said.
“This commitment was acknowledged in the Prime Minister’s National Security Statement last year which elevated emergency management to a national security concern that threatened the safety and security of our citizens.”
To achieve this, the Government is adopting an all-hazards approach to disasters and emergencies, irrespective of their cause, providing appropriate funding and shifting the focus from reactive response to developing long-term nationally co-ordinated resilience.
Since the election of the Rudd Labor Government, there has been a 33 per cent increase in funding for emergency response capabilities.
This years Budget increased the Government’s total commitment to disaster mitigation measures to over $200 million, including:
- $79.3 million for the Disaster Resilience Australia Package;
- $27 million to establish a national telephony-based emergency warning system, including $11.3 million to build a secure database of phone numbers for the system to use and conduct research into mobile location-based warnings;
- $12.8 million for National Aerial Fire Fighting Arrangements;
- $12.8 million to support the work of emergency management volunteers through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund;
- $10 million to address bushfire mitigation risk priorities across the nation; and
- $6.8 million to improve communications capabilities for emergency authorities and decision-makers during disaster events.
The Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management (MCPEM) has also endorsed the Australian Emergency Management Arrangements which for the first time bring together emergency management arrangements across all jurisdictions.
MCPEM has also agreed to develop a National Catastrophic Disaster Plan and national strategies for enhancing community engagement, education, self reliance and recovery. Developing strategies for the recruitment and retention of volunteers will be crucial to this.
“These initiatives will be undertaken in the context of specific work to identify the impacts of climate change on disaster preparedness at a local level.”
The Rudd Government, in cooperation with non-government and community organisations is committed to protecting the safety and security of Australians and our capacity to withstand disasters and emergencies irrespective of their cause.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
