The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is calling for councils to provide feedback on a new Discussion Paper about finding alternative long-term options to calling in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to assist with disaster response.
The recent Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements highlighted the need for alternative capabilities for response to disasters.
The Federal Government conducted a Defence Strategic Review, released in April 2023, where the Commonwealth agreed to work with local jurisdictions to develop national response and resilience measures to adverse climate change at the local level, without the need for ADF support, except in the most extreme emergencies.
A Senate Select Committee into Australia’s Disaster Resilience is also investigating the role of the ADF in disasters. The Senate has extended the committee’s reporting date to April 2024.
NEMA is seeking submissions by 20 September 2023 to NationalResilience.Consultation@homeaffairs.gov.au.