NEWS AND CURRENT ISSUES
Current news and media releases | Media contacts | Past media releases | Speeches | Disasters - community information
Media contacts for all media enquiries
- Alastair Wilson, Media Liaison, Emergency Management Australia: (02) 6256 4630 or mob. 0408 606 462
- Attorney-General's Department - Public Affairs office - (02) 6250 5889 (diverts to mobile a/h)
2008
These Media Releases are available on the Attorney-General's website
- 11 November 2008 - Community Resilience Promoted at Safer Communities Awards
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today presented 16 Australian Safer Communities Awards to innovative and educational projects that promote awareness and management of natural disasters. - 6 November 2008 - Emergency Management Ministers agree to share Education Programs
Australia’s emergency services ministers have today agreed to establish an internet database, hosted by the Australian Disaster Information Network, which will enable the states and territories to easily share knowledge about community emergency education programs. - 28 October 2008 - Aerial Firefighting gets $10 Million for the Bushfire Season
The Rudd Government will this year contribute $10.2 million to increase the capacity for aerial firefighting to assist the states and territories prepare for the bushfire season. - 28 October 2008 - Students learn about Natural Disasters Online
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today visited Macedon Primary School in Victoria to launch a new web-based education game aimed at teaching young Australians how to prepare and respond to emergencies and disasters. - 24 October 2008 - Northern Territory Receives $6.7 Million for Disaster Relief and Recovery
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced that the Rudd Government will provide $6,665,220 to the Northern Territory under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. - 17 October 2008 - Australian Search and Rescue Team Gains International Accreditation
The Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Queensland Minister for Emergency Services Neil Roberts have welcomed the international accreditation of a Queensland Urban Search and Rescue team. - 15 October 2008 - Children Learn More About Tsunami at Questacon
An innovative new tsunami awareness show aimed at helping school children understand this potentially disastrous force of nature has been launched at Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre - in Canberra. - 8 October - Rudd Government Thanks Emergency Services Personnel
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today marked the United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction by commending Australia’s emergency agencies on their efforts in reducing the risk of emergencies and disasters. - 29 July 2008 - Rudd Government provides funding boost for emergency volunteers
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced over $3 million in funding grants to boost the recruitment, retention and training of volunteer organisations at the front line of emergency management. - 29 July 2008 - Disaster protection funds for Victoria
The Rudd and Brumby Governments will provide almost $1 million for eleven natural disaster mitigation projects across Victoria. - 25 July 2008 - Natural Disaster Funding Applications Now Open
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland has today called on local communities to apply for funding under the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program. - 26 June 2008 - $15 million to improve major disaster rescue response
The Rudd Government will provide $15 million dollars to police and emergency services to purchase cutting-edge equipment so they can better respond to disasters such as large scale building collapses or earthquakes, Attorney-General Robert McClelland announced today. - 2 May 2008 - Bushfire Trails get $5 Million Boost
Australia’s bushfire trails will be better maintained with $5 million in funding under the Bushfire Mitigation Program for 2008-09, the Rudd Government announced today. - 27 March 2008 – Government funds 'Smart Sparx' Community Fire Safety Eduction Kit
Mr Damian Hale MP, Federal Member for Solomon, has launched the 'Smart Sparx' Community Fire Safety Education Kit today at a presentation at Parliament House in Darwin. - 26 March 2008 – Communique – Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
A new spirit of cooperation has been evident during the first meeting of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management since the election of the Rudd Government, which was held today in Canberra. - 14 February 2008 - Self reliance recognised in safer communities awards
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today praised projects from across Australia, which help the public to be better prepared for emergencies. - 18 January 2008 - Portable barriers sent to help in Queensland floods
The Rudd Government is transporting temporary flood barriers from New South Wales to Queensland to help protect homes in the path of rising flood waters. - 9 January 2008 - Emergency Volunteer Support Fund Applications Invited
Attorney-General Robert McClelland was pleased to announce today that applications for the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund in 2008/09 are now invited.
2007
Press release from the Attorney-General Robert McClelland, 13.12.07SKYCRANE ARRIVES IN CANBERRA FOR BUSHFIRE SEASON
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today welcomed the arrival of an Erickson Skycrane helicopter to assist in the ACT region’s firefighting capability.
“These aircraft have a proven track record and are a welcome addition to our emergency management capacity for the bushfire season,” Mr McClelland said.
“The use of aircraft for aerial firefighting has grown in Australia over recent years and water bombing aircraft are now a very visible feature of firefighting operations each fire season, particularly at rural-urban boundaries where they can provide rapid and effective fire suppression.”
The Canberra-based Skycrane is one of four available in Australia for the bushfire season, and forms part of the Australian Government’s commitment of $41.2 million over four years to assist the States and Territories to fund firefighting aircraft.
“Since its implementation, the initiative has allowed for at least 32 aircraft to be contracted through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre in the 2007-08 season, an increase from the 25 available last season,” Mr McClelland said.
“Aircraft offer three major advantages over ground-based firefighters; speed, access and observation. We have seen this effectively demonstrated just recently in the Kangaroo Island bushfires.”
The Skycrane helicopters are currently based in NSW, Victoria and the ACT and will be repositioned to other operational areas as required.
“These national arrangements are an example of Australia's firefighting and land management agencies working together to provide greater community fire protection,” Mr McClelland said.
In his first media event as Attorney-General, Robert McClelland joined the ACT's minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, to welcome the Erickson Aircrane water-bomber that will be based in Canberra for this fire season. It's one of four to be based in Australia to help bushfire fighting efforts through the summer. Click thumbnail to see a larger version of the pictures.
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Media Contact: Tom Cameron 0417 147 932
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