Emergency management plan a boost for community safety
30 September 2004
Today's announcement that a re-elected Coalition Government would provide $33m to enhance the emergency management capacity of local government has been warmly welcomed by the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Mike Montgomery.
"Local government plays an important role in all aspects of emergency management at the local level," Cr Montgomery said. "Local government prepares emergency management plans, spends much time and money on mitigation measures, acts swiftly when emergencies and disasters arise and plays a key leadership and coordination role to help communities recovery from adversity."
"The measures announced today will help local government further develop its all-hazard approach to emergency management.
"Local government has already been working closely with the Commonwealth agency, Emergency Management Australia (EMA). We welcome this new policy commitment as a way of increasing the ability of councils to prepare for, react to and recover from emergencies and disasters, whether caused by nature or by man.
"With local government under considerable financial pressure, we are pleased to see a commitment to provide further federal assistance to help us protect the communities we serve.
"The policy - Working together to manage emergencies - commits the Coalition to a $33m local government security partnership program. This includes:
- $1m to be used by Emergency Management Australia and ALGA to develop a national strategic plan for local consequence management in partnership with councils
- $30m in grants to boost emergency preparedness and capacity at the local level
- $2m over four years for a dedicated office of local government emergency management within EMA
"ALGA also welcomes the commitment to provide $16m over four years to establish a national emergency volunteer support fund to boost the recruitment, skills and training base of volunteer organisations.
"We know the ALP also acknowledges the important role played by local government in emergency management and are keen to see a matching commitment," Cr Montgomery said.
