Annual Progress Report - Victorian Emergency Management Strategic Action Plan 2015–18 (May 2016) | Inspector-General for Emergency Management Victoria

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.

The Emergency Management Act 2013 (the Act) requires the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) to monitor and report to the Minister for Emergency Services on the implementation of the Victorian Emergency Management Strategic Action Plan (the SAP).

The 2015–18 SAP was released in July 2015 and comprises 30 strategic actions to contribute to a sustainable and efficient emergency management system that reduces the likelihood, effect, and consequences of emergencies.

This is the first annual progress report prepared by IGEM on the state’s progress with implementing reform through the SAP. The report provides the implementation progress update for the first three quarters of 2015–16 (1 July 2015 to 31 March 2016).

Overall, IGEM considers that the SAP actions are progressing satisfactorily, with 22 of the 30 actions commenced and now at varying levels of planning, scoping and implementation.

While a number of actions have experienced minor delays due to operational demands from Victoria’s summer season, IGEM has accepted advice from lead agencies that these actions will be on schedule in the near future.

IGEM’s next progress (annual) report is scheduled for completion in late 2017.

The Annual Progress Report - Victorian Emergency Management Strategic Action Plan 2015-18 (May 2016) was published on 9 August 2016.

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