Run ‘diagnostic’ on disaster plans: expert

Australian governments are being encouraged to evaluate their readiness to collaborate, which research shows is crucial to an effective response.

26 November, 2018

When disaster strikes: councils face volunteer challenges 

State-wide databases and better-funded programs are needed to help councils respond to changes in how Australians volunteer around disaster.

25 October, 2018

Gaps in preparedness flagged ahead of bushfire season

Queensland emergency services are not fully prepared for a worsening bushfire threat despite earlier recommendations, the state’s auditor says.

15 October, 2018

When the threat recedes: helping communities recover

Government News meets the individuals working to determine how government can best support communities affected by disaster.

6 August, 2018

Disaster plan ‘empowers’ vulnerable towns

From highly-equipped communities to new disaster dashboards, councils are focusing on preparedness and information in their approaches to emergency management.

21 June, 2018

Drought relief double dip cops Katter blast

FAG forward funding hypocritical robbery.

28 April, 2015

Disaster Online: NSW storm traffic surges but no flash crash

Tweets keep people off trains, roads and safe

23 April, 2015

Smart mapping leapfrogs future disasters

GIS to track government assets.

24 September, 2014

Tasmanian police seal NBN deal

By Paul Hemsley The Tasmanian Government has selected iiNet as its preferred internet service provider for the state’s Department of Police and Emergency Management to plug into the National Broadband Network (NBN).   The deal will link the core network between police stations and the state government. The rollout of the NBN across Tasmania has […]

29 January, 2013

Victorian facility boosts emergency training

By Paul Hemsley Emergency services training in Victoria will be improved from the building of a specialised firefighting training facility. The Victorian Government will fund $109 million for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) training facility in Graigieburn in the City of Hume local government area, providing skills to firefighters and other emergency personnel to face […]

30 July, 2012

Councils rally to support flood-affected Queensland

With three quarters of Queensland declared a disaster zone, councils and shires across Australia have thrown their support behind the flood recovery effort. In South Australia, the Local Government Association offered to deploy personnel to flood-affected communities in Queensland to repair damaged infrastructure. LGA president Felicity-ann Lewis directly contacted the Local Government Association of Queensland […]

17 January, 2011

Flood crisis worsens

By Angela Dorizas Communities across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia have suffered from severe flooding, with 45 local government areas declared natural disaster zones. The flood crisis has so far claimed the lives of four people from the Queensland towns of Oxford Downs and Rockhampton, and Parkes in NSW. In Wagga Wagga, […]

10 December, 2010

Tasmania to hold tsunami forums

By Rob O’Brien Tasmanian communities will hold tsunami forums to raise awareness about emergency management issues. Minister for Police and Emergency Management Jim Cox said tsunami community awareness forums will begin next month on the State’s East Coast. “Recent events in the South Pacific have raised concerns over the possible threat to coastal communities and […]

16 October, 2009

Simulated tsunami tests response arrangements

By Staff Writer Australia’s emergency management arrangements were yesterday put to the test in a regional tsunami exercise. Led by Indonesia, the Indian Ocean Wave exercise tested the ability of agencies to communicate urgent information including the size, intensity and likely land inundation of a simulated tsunami in the region. The exercise involved emergency services […]

15 October, 2009