Tasmania pre-disaster season briefing

Emergency Management Australia (EMA) is conducting national preparedness briefings with police, fire authorities and other emergency services in each State and Territory in preparation for the upcoming bushfire and disaster season.

Minister for Emergency Management Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the virtual briefings – continuing today with Tasmania – will be held with authorities around the country and include information from EMA, the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Services Australia.

“Although Tasmania has been spared from major natural disasters recently, Tasmanian emergency services personnel have showed the true spirit of national collaboration supporting their colleagues in other jurisdictions,” Senator McKenzie said.  

“However COVID-19 has seen Defence personnel support quarantine compliance management in Tasmania, and Commonwealth Health personnel, through a domestic deployment of an Australian Medical Assistance Team – AUSMAT – ensured ongoing Emergency health services in response to the North West Hospital outbreak in April 2020.

“Australian Government agencies will continue to plan and collaborate with Tasmanian agencies, and be ready to deploy to assist where needed.”

Preparations for the upcoming disaster season over summer have been underway for several months.

“Today’s preparedness briefing will include advice from Bureau of Meteorology experts about the types of threats facing Tasmania this summer,” Senator McKenzie said.

“EMA will provide a comprehensive overview of the support and services available to states and territories during disasters and emergencies.

“The Australian Government works with communities to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from disasters – from disaster mitigation initiatives, and community awareness and warning measures, through to disaster relief and recovery support.”

/Public Release. View in full here.