BUSHFIRE PRE-SEASON BRIEFING
25 September 2009
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today convened the inaugural bushfire pre-season briefing for State and Territory emergency management officials to facilitate disaster planning and preparedness.
The briefing, a recommendation of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission Interim Report, will detail Commonwealth support arrangements that are available in the event of a serious disaster or emergency.
The briefing, conducted by Emergency Management Australia (EMA), included:
- information on the availability and capability of Commonwealth assets;
- natural disaster support arrangements;
- cooperative response procedures under the Australian Emergency Management Arrangements, such as the Commonwealth Disaster Response Plan;
- seasonal outlooks from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) in relation to severe fire weather and cyclone activity; and
- bushfire detection and mapping capabilities within Geoscience Australia.
The briefing included representatives from the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, Centrelink, the Department of Defence, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Human Services, and the Attorney-General’s Department.
Consistent with the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, the Commonwealth briefing will be provided on an ongoing basis each year to inform the States and Territories on available disaster support and emergency arrangements.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
