Media Releases
2010
March
- 10 March 2010 - Emergency Management Cooperation with New Caledonia
Australia and French New Caledonia have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in preventing and responding to bushfires and other natural disasters, under a Letter of Intent signed today by the Attorney-General, Robert McClelland. - 9 March 2010 - Flood Grants for Small Businesses and Primary Producers
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Anna Bligh today announced joint Commonwealth-State funded grants to help small businesses and primary producers affected by recent flooding in Queensland. - 9 March 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for New South Wales Flood Affected Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by recent storms and flooding in New South Wales. - 6 March 2010 - Tsunami Awareness Project
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Director of Life Saving, Peter George, will today promote an innovative awareness program at Bondi Beach to help the general public and surf life savers better prepare and respond to tsunami warnings. - 5 March 2010 - Commonwealth Extends Assistance for Queensland Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide additional financial assistance to Queensland communities affected by heavy rainfall and associated flooding. - 3 March 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Queensland Flood Affected Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to Queensland communities affected by recent flooding.
February
- 19 February 2010 - Commonwealth and Victoria agree on Disaster Resilience Partnership
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, today announced a $7.8 million joint implementation plan for disaster resilience initiatives in Victoria. - 17 February 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for New South Wales Flood Affected Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to New South Wales communities affected by recent flooding in the south coast and far west. - 9 February 2010 - Trial of Bushfire Fire Detection Cameras
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, and New South Wales Minister for Forest Resources, Ian Macdonald, today announced a comprehensive trial of bush fire detection cameras. - 7 February 2010 - Anniversary of Black Saturday Bushfires
The Australian Government today joined with Victoria in marking the first anniversary of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires
January
- 28 January 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Affected Queensland Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to North Queensland communities impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclones Olga and Neville. - 23 January 2010 – Australian Air Traffic Controllers to Assist in Haiti
The Government has approved the deployment of a small team of Defence Air Traffic Controllers to assist efforts in earthquake ravaged Haiti. The Air Traffic Controllers will augment the United Stateseffort to ensure a synchronised and effective operation. - 19 January 2010 – Australia Increases Emergency Assistance to Haiti
In response to this and to the United Nation’s Flash Appeal launched on the weekend, Australia will provide an additional $5 million to meet urgent and emergency humanitarian needs such as food, water and sanitation, shelter and medical assistance. - 14 January 2010 - Australian Assistance for Haiti
Australia will provide an initial $10 million in emergency humanitarian relief and reconstruction assistance in response to the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti close to the capital of Port-au-Prince around 9am (AEST) on 13 January 2010. - 12 January 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Affected Communities in the Northern Territory
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Federal Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to the Northern Territory Government to assist with costs associated with helping communities impacted by recent flooding. - 8 January 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Affected Queensland Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to the Queensland Government to assist with costs associated with helping communities in Central and South West Queensland impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding.
2009
December
- 31 December 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for North-West New South Wales Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by floods in north-west New South Wales. - 31 December 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Western Australian Bushfire Victims
After a visit to affected communities by the Parliamentary Secretary for Western Australia, The Hon Gary Gray MP, the Commonwealth Government has announced that it will provide financial assistance to communities affected by bushfires in Western Australia under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). - 23 December 2009 - Commonwealth and NSW Governements Agree on Disaster Resilience Partnership
Commonwealth Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan, today agreed on a $15 million joint implementation plan for disaster resilience initiatives in New South Wales. -
4 December 2009 - National Cooperation Delivers New Warning System
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and the Victorian Police and Emergency Services Minister, Bob Cameron, today launched the national telephone-based emergency warning system, ‘Emergency Alert’ at the Victorian State Control Centre. - 3 December 2009 - National Community Safety Projects Awarded
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has today recognised 14 community-based projects from across the country with Australian Safer Communities Awards.
November
- 25 November 2009 - Royal Commission Building Report Welcomed
The Australian Government has welcomed the release of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s interim report on priorities for building in bushfire prone areas. - 24 November 2009 - Further Assistance in Response to NSW Bushfires
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today approved further assistance to the New South Wales Government under the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan which is managed by Emergency Management Australia. - 20 November 2009 - Communique - Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Perth
The Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management (the Council) met in Perth today in advance of the main bushfire, cyclone and flood season in Australia. The Council comprises emergency management Ministers from the Commonwealth, the states and territories, New Zealand and the President of the Australian Local Government Association. - 20 November 2009 - Australian Government provides assistance in response to NSW bushfires
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today approved assistance to New South Wales under the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan which is managed by Emergency Management Australia. - 8 November 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for New South Wales Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by recent flooding in parts of the New South Wales mid-north coast.
October
- 30 October 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance to Northern New South Wales Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by recent flooding in parts of the New South Wales mid-north coast. - 23 October 2009 - Disaster Mitigation Funding for Tasmania
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Tasmanian Minister for Police and Emergency Management, Jim Cox, today announced that the Commonwealth will invest over $150,000 to help Tasmania prepare for extreme storm and weather events. - 20 October 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Queensland Bushfire Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by recent bushfires in Queensland. - 14 October 2009 - Australia Participates in Regional Tsunami Exercise
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed Australia’s participation in an international exercise to test response arrangements for tsunami activity in the Indian Ocean. - 9 October 2009 - $2 Million to Help Prepare for Extreme Weather Events from Climate Change
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong and the Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced a new grants program totalling $2 million to help increase understanding of extreme weather events and climate change. - 9 October 2009 - Release of Flood Management Manuals
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin today released key emergency management manuals to improve flood preparedness, warnings and emergency response.
September
- 25 September 2009 - Comminique - Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
The Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management (MCPEM-EM) today held an extraordinary meeting to consider preparedness for the coming bushfire season - 25 September 2009 - Bushfire Pre-Season Briefing
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today convened the inaugural bushfire pre-season briefing for State and Territory emergency management officials to facilitate disaster planning and preparedness. - 7 September 2009 - Statement by the Attorney-General - Commonwealth Response to the Interim Report of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
The devastating Victorian bushfires of February 2009 have been described as Australia’s worst natural disaster, and it certainly was that in terms of the catastrophic loss of life and the extreme damage to property.
August
- 31 August 2009 - Response to Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report
The Commonwealth today provided its response to the Interim Report of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. - 19 August 2009 - Protection for Foreign Emergency Personnel
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today introduced into the House of Representatives the Foreign States Immunities Amendment Bill 2009. - 17 August 2009 - Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction, Bill Shorten, today welcomed the release of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report. - 11 August 2009 - ASPI Report on Disaster Resilience
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the release of the Hardening Australia: Climate Change and National Disaster Resilience report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). - 7 August 2009 - Australian Emergency Management Arrangements
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released the Australian Emergency Management Arrangements (AEMA). - 4 August 2009 - Rudd Government Invests in our Emergency Volunteers
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced additional funding of over $3.3 million for 179 projects as part of the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund (NEVSF).
July
- 16 July 2009 - Australian Tsunami Warning System
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today acknowledged the effectiveness of the Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS) following the undersea earthquake that took place last night off the coast of New Zealand.
June
- 26 June 2009 - Release of National Bushfire Arson Forum Report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released a report by the National Bushfire Arson Forum which highlights the importance of effective coordination in combating deliberately lit fires. - 19 June 2009 - Tsunami Exercise Tests Australia’s Warning System
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today delivered the findings of ‘Exercise Ausnami’, a comprehensive test of the Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS). - 17 June 2008 - Red Cross World Disasters Report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the release of the World Disasters Report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). - 15 June 2009 - Further Assistance for Queensland Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, today announced further assistance for small businesses and primary producers affected by the February floods in Queensland.
May
- 22 May 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Northern New South Wales Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in northern New South Wales. - 21 May 2009 - Australia and New Zealand Enhance Disaster Resilience Links
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the signing of a cooperation arrangement between the national emergency management organisations of New Zealand and Australia. - 21 May 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for South-East Queensland Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in South-East Queensland. - 12 May 2009 - Strengthening our National Security
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, today announced around $100 million in funding over four years to strengthen Australia’s national security framework as part of the Government’s $685 million investment in national security. - 12 May 2009 - Improving Disaster Resilience
The Rudd Government will invest $79.3 million to strengthen efforts to prepare for and combat major natural disasters. - 6 May 2009 - Commonwealth provides over $4 million in Bushfire Mitigation Funding to States & Territories
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth will provide more than $4 million to the States and Territories through the Bushfire Mitigation Program.
April
- 30 April 2009 - COAG agrees to establish National Emergency Warning System
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) today agreed to develop a national telephone emergency warning system. - 22 April 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Lord Howe Island Storm Victems
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth will provide financial assistance to those affected by recent severe storms on lord Howe Island. - 20 April 2009 - National Emergency Volunteer Leadership Programme
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today attended the inaugural National Emergency Volunteer Leadership Programme in Mount Macedon, Victoria - 17 April 2009 - Arson Penalties to be Strengthened
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and State and Territory Attorneys-General today agreed on the necessity for strong bushfire and arson offences across Australia. - 9 April 2009 - Government tightens Reduced Fire Risk Cigarette Regulations
Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen, and Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the Government will reduce the transition period that non-reduced fire-risk (RFR) cigarettes will be available for sale from 12 to 6 months. - 8 April 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Victims in South-East Queensland
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities recently affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions of South-East Queensland. - 7 April 2009 - Commonwealth Provides Over $18 Million in Disaster Mitigation Funding to States and Territories
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that more than $18 million will be provided to the States and Territories this financial year under the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP). - 3 April 2009 - Commonwealth assistance for flood victims on New South Wales mid-north coast
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance for recovery efforts following the recent flooding of communities on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
March
- 25 March 2009 - Expert Forum Sets Agenda to Combat Bushfire Arson
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today convened a National Forum on the Reduction of Deliberate Bushfires in Australia. - 18 March 2009 - National Security Discussions with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Professor Shunmugan Jayakumar, to discuss a broad range of national security issues facing Australia, Singapore and the wider region. - 16 March 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance to recover Pacific Adventurer shipping containers
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Rudd Government will deploy a Royal Australian Navy mine-hunting vessel to search for 31 fertiliser containers lost from the Pacific Adventurer during Tropical Cyclone Hamish on 11 March. - 13 March 2009 - Further Assistance for Victims of the North Queensland Floods
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Australian Government will contribute a further $500,000 to assist victims of the recent North Queensland floods. - 11 March 2009 - Inaugural Meeting of the Reference Group on Chemical Security
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today addressed the inaugural meeting of the National Industry Reference Group on Chemical Security.
February
- 23 February 2009 - Rudd Government Implements COAG Agreement on Telephone-Based Emergency Warning Systems
The Rudd Government will today introduce into Parliament amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997 to enable access to the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) for telephone-based emergency warning systems established by the States and Territories. - 19 February 2009 - Australian Government Provides an Extra $4 Million for Aerial Firefighting
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today announced that the Australian Government will provide an additional $4 million to keep in place aerial firefighting capability across the country this bushfire season. - 11 February 2009 - Australian Government Assistance for New South Wales Fires
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Plan for New South Wales, authorising the use of Defence Force assets to support New South Wales fight fires at Singleton, in the Hunter Valley -
8 February 2009 - Rudd Government Flies Food Packs into Remote Queensland
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has activated the Commonwealth Disaster plan, authorising the use of the Defence Force to supply and deliver thousands of food packs into the flooded Ingham area of North Queensland. - 5 February 2009 - Rudd Government helps Queensland supply flood isolated towns (FED)
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said the Government has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Plan, approving the delivery of urgently-needed aviation fuel to flood-affected communities in Far North Queensland. - 2 February 2009 - Commonwealth Assistance to Restore Broken Communications in Derby
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today authorised the use of Defence Force resources to urgently fly replacement communications fibre optic cable into the northwest of Western Australia. - 1 February 2009 - Rudd Government to Address Bushfire Arson with States and Territories
Attorney-General Robert McClelland today welcomed the release of a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology on prevention of deliberate bushfires in Australia.
2008
December
- 17 December 2008 - $3 Million for Flood Protection in South Australia
The Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland today announced joint funding of almost $3 million to further upgrade flood protection works across the State. - 17 December 2008 - Rudd Government to Provide Victoria $965,000 to Help Bushfire Preparation
Attorney-General Robert McClelland and the Victorian Minister for Police and Emergency Services Bob Cameron today announced that Victoria will receive $965,000 in funding from the Rudd Government’s Bushfire Mitigation Program. - 5 December 2008 - Rudd Government congratulates Emergency Management Sector on International Volunteer Day
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today recognised ‘International Volunteer Day’ by congratulating the thousands of emergency management volunteers across Australia for their commitment and dedication in times of crisis.
November
- 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.
October
- 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.
July
- 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.
June
- 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.
May
- 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.
March
- 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.
February
- 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.
January
- 18 January 2008 - Portable barriers sent to help in Queensland floods
The Rudd Government is transporting tempo - rary 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 Media Releases
- 13 December 2007 – Skycrane 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.