Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department

Australian Government Emergency Management Plans

Emergency Management Australia (EMA) is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of a number of Australian Government emergency management plans.

These emergency management plans are:

Australian Emergency Management Arrangements (AEMA)

The Arrangements provide an overview of how Federal, State, Territory and Local Governments collectively approach the management of emergencies, including catastrophic disaster events.

They were endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management (MCPEM) and outline the principles, structures and procedures that support the coordination of emergency management in Australia and its offshore territories; and the collaboration necessary to match the response and assistance required to the nature of the event.

The Arrangements are reviewed and reissued regularly by the Australian Emergency Management Committee in consultation with relevant agencies and organisations.

If you have any issues downloading this document please contact ema@ema.gov.au.

Australian Government Disaster Response Plan (COMDISPLAN)

The aim of COMDISPLAN is to describe the coordination arrangements for the provision of Australian Government physical assistance to states or territories or offshore territories in the event of a disaster.

The plan can be activated for any disaster regardless of the cause.

The Director General EMA is authorised to activate COMDISPLAN.

Before physical assistance is provided under the plan, the Director General EMA will obtain the Attorney-General’s approval for the provision of Australian Government physical assistance.

Australian Government Plan for the Reception of Australian Citizens and Approved Foreign Nationals Evacuated from Overseas (COMRECEPLAN)

The aim of COMRECEPLAN is to outline the arrangements for the reception into Australia of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate dependents and approved foreign nationals evacuated from overseas.

The evacuation would normally be coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

EMA will act as the lead Australian Government agency in coordinating Australian Government Departments and assisting State or Territory Governments agency support for reception operations.

EMA will request appropriate States or Territories to undertake reception operations at reception points.

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Australian Government Aviation Disaster Response Plan (CAVDISPLAN)

The aim of CAVDISPLAN is to outline how the Australian Government would assist States and Territories in the event of a State or Territory activating is applicable response plan to deal with a major aircraft accident. It also describes how the Australian government would coordinate the response to a major aircraft accident outside a State or Territory such as at sea, or on an Australian offshore territory or in its vicinity.

CAVDISPLAN is intended to provide guidance in the management of the time critical phases of a response to a major aircraft accident. It addresses the processes associated with rapid deployment of search and rescue facilities and the establishment of the subsequent investigatory processes. COMDISPLAN can be activated to support CAVDISPLAN.

Australian Government Maritime Radiological Response Plan (COMARRPLAN)

COMARRPLAN is prepared and maintained by EMA as a contingency plan for the provision of Australian Government assistance in the event of a radiological incident involving ships carrying radiological material.

The aim of COMARRPLAN is to detail the arrangements for the response to a maritime radiation incident involving radiological material which has the potential to impact on Australia, its coastal waters or it s Economic Exclusion Zone.

COMARRPLAN is a sub plan of COMDISPLAN and operates in accordance with COMDISPLAN arrangements.

Australian Government Contingency Plan for Space Re-Entry Debris (AUSCONPLAN-SPRED)

AUSCONPLAN-SPRED details the arrangements for the Australian Government to inform States and Territories of any risk posed to Australian interests by the re-entry of space debris. The plan outlines how the Australian Government will support states and territories in the event that space debris should impact within their jurisdictions.

The plan identifies roles and responsibilities for key Australian Government agencies and committees in supporting the response to space debris re-entry. It also details how support should be requested and how it would be managed.

National Response Plan for Mass Casualty Incidents Involving Australians Overseas (OSMASSCASPLAN)

OSMASSCASPLAN is the national overseas mass casualty response plan. The plan provides an agreed framework for agencies in all Australian jurisdictions to assess, repatriate and provide care for Australians and other approved persons inured or killed overseas in numbers that exceed the capacity of normal day to day operations of relevant agencies in any incident and is declared a mass casualty event by Ministers.

Where appropriate, OSMASSCASPLAN uses existing consular, emergency management, health, and recovery systems but recognises that the extra-territorial dimension of operations outside Australia requires significant coordinated cooperation between all Australian governments.

Australian Government Overseas Disaster Assistance Plan (AUSASSISTPLAN)

The aim of AUSASSISTPLAN is to detail the coordination arrangements for the provision of Australian emergency assistance, using Commonwealth physical and technical resources, following a disaster or emergency in another country. AusAID may call upon EMA, as AusAID’s agent, to prepare contingency plans. AusAID may also request EMA to coordinate the operational aspects of a post-impact (emergency) response to an overseas disaster employing Australian Government physical or technical resources.

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