Emergency management ministers in Australia have commissioned an independent review of National Natural Disaster Governance Arrangements.
The review aims to help the Australian government better prepare for natural disasters and their impacts as Australia faces more frequent and severe extreme weather events. It will examine how national governance arrangements could effectively serve natural disaster preparedness, response, recovery, resilience, and long-term policy requirements.
Dr Robert Glasser, a climate change and disaster management expert from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), will lead the governance review.
The review will complement the Independent Review into Commonwealth Disaster Funding led by Andrew Colvin, APM OAM.
Moreover, Dr Glasser will establish an authoritative disaster advisory body and expand the remit of the National Emergency Management Minister's Meeting (NEMMM), a minister council reporting to the national cabinet to drive cooperation and consistency on issues in emergency and disaster management and resilience.
NEMMM chair and Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt called on ministers to cooperate and plan before Australia faces further natural disasters.
“If we are as prepared as possible at a government level, we can ensure communities get help fast,” Watt said. “The Albanese government is committed to looking at what can be done better, to build a better prepared, more resilient Australia.
“Dr Glasser has the right skills and experience to lead the review, and [he] will ensure the views of all state and territory governments and key stakeholders are taken into account.”
The government expects the review's completion on November 30, 2023.
Last month, the federal government invested $400 million into nearly 200 disaster resilience and mitigation projects.
