AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
7 August 2009
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released the Australian Emergency Management Arrangements (AEMA).
The Arrangements provide an overview of how Federal, State, Territory and Local Governments collectively approach the management of emergencies, including catastrophic disaster events.
“Australia has adopted a comprehensive and integrated approach to the management of emergencies and disasters,” Mr McClelland said.
Under Australia’s constitutional arrangements, State and Territory Governments have responsibility for emergency management within their jurisdictions.
Australia’s Emergency Management Arrangements, however, are based on collaborative partnerships between all levels of Government as well as business, industry and the community.
These partnerships aim to minimise our vulnerability to disasters and emergencies by protecting lives and facilitating recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Arrangements, endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management (MCPEM), outline:
- the principles, structures and procedures that support the coordination of emergency management in Australia and its offshore territories; and
- the collaboration necessary to match the response and assistance required to the nature of the event.
“This will assist in creating more informed and safer communities that are better able to withstand natural disasters.”
The Arrangements are reviewed and reissued regularly by the Australian Emergency Management Committee in consultation with relevant agencies and organisations.
The AEMA will be discussed next month as part of a workshop to examine Australia’s arrangements for preparing and responding to catastrophic disasters.
A copy of the Arrangements can be found on the Emergency Management Australia website at: www.ema.gov.au.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
