FSIP1 Action 16.2

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

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Report name

Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1

Lead agency

EMV - Emergency Management Victoria

Status

Complete

Due date

2023 (revised)

Finding

IGEM considers that this action has been implemented

Recommendation theme

Recommendation 16: Cross-border interoperability

Recommendation details

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria works with the emergency management sector and relevant emergency management entities in New South Wales and South Australia to identify and address key cross border operational and resource management issues. This engagement should aim to enhance interoperability and maximise the capability and capacity of agencies to work together during emergencies along Victoria's borders.

Action

EMV will lead a sector review to ensure cohesive and consistent warnings and advice messages are broadcast along borders.

Summary of progress

Sector review
IGEM’s 2021 progress report noted the completion of two consultants reports in June 2021:

Cross Border Communication in Natural Disasters: Situation Report (June 2021) – provides an overview of the information needs of cross border communities and provides options for future consultation with cross border communities on communications issues.
Cross Border Communication Literature Review (June 2021) – summarises recent relevant inquiries, research, and submissions from individuals, community groups and local government on cross border communication issues.

EMV engaged with sector partners and councils along Victoria’s borders on the review, including holding two sector workshops on cross border communications in September 2021 – one involving fire agencies from Victoria, NSW and South Australia, and the other involving state emergency services from these states.

EMV provided the Cross Border Communication in Natural Disasters: Situation Report to the Victorian Cross Border Commissioner’s office for consideration to inform future cross border MoUs.

Australian Warning System and Australian Fire Danger Rating System
IGEM notes that implementation of the new Australian Warning System and Australian Fire Danger Rating System in Victoria and neighbouring states supports the issuing of consistent warnings and advice messages to border communities.

EMV is leading the implementation of both systems in Victoria.

For more information refer to the progress summary for FSIP1 Action 12.6 and the following websites: australianwarningsystem.com.au (External link) and cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/total-fire-bans-and-ratings/about-fire-danger-ratings (External link)

Related activity
To further ensure cohesive and consistent warnings and advice messages are broadcast along borders, EMV has:

worked with emergency management sector partners to develop the new role of Cross Border Emergency Management Liaison Officer. The key accountabilities of the role include connecting public information and public liaison teams to ensure consistency of warnings and advice, incident messaging and community information (refer to FSIP1 Action 16.3).
led work to update the Victorian Warning Arrangements in 2021 which include considerations for issuing and managing community warnings across borders.

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