Federal, State and Territory Emergency Management Ministers have today endorsed the Second National Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction – signalling a national commitment to driving down natural disaster risk and building resilience.
At the National Emergency Management Ministers’ Meeting in Brisbane, all Ministers endorsed the new strategic framework.
Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the plan was an important milestone in the nation’s risk reduction journey.
“This document recognises that the States, Territories and Commonwealth are on the same page and pulling in the same direction when it comes to being prepared for future disasters like bushfires, floods, storms, and cyclones,” Minister Watt said.
“This is particularly important because as our first responders know, cooperation is crucial when it comes to protecting Australians, and I’m very pleased that all State and Territory Ministers are so willing to collaborate.
“We know that working together and reducing disaster risk will benefit the whole country, and we are committed to that goal.
“We’ve listened to what is needed to reduce our disaster risk including drawing from Australia’s diverse knowledge systems to improve the evidence base for action, putting community in the centre and giving all a seat at the table.
“Australians live in one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world and the nation has faced extraordinary challenges since the First National Action Plan in 2020.
“In 2022 alone, 70 percent of Australians lived in a disaster declared region, and many communities faced multiple, rolling disasters, compounded by the lingering impacts of Covid.”
The Second National Action Plan aims to be inclusive, acknowledging the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia and the need to listen and learn disaster resilience from our First Nations people to protect our lands and waters and build our social and cultural connections.
It will implement the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework and will provide a nationally-supported approach needed to reduce our risks and the impacts of disasters season on season, year on year.
The Second National Action Plan aligns with Australia’s commitment to the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Plan is available on
NEMA’s Strategies and Frameworks webpage.
