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Recommendation 16: Address cross-border operational and resource management issues

Find out what the government is doing in response to this recommendation from the IGEM Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian bushfire season: Phase 1 report.

On this page

The actions on this page are identified in the Victorian Government response to Recommendation 16 from the IGEM Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1 report.

IGEM Recommendation 16: Cross border operations and resource management

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) 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.

Actions

Action 16.1: Appoint a Cross-Border and Preparedness Operations Manager to assess mutual aid agreements for emergencies

Emergency Management Victoria has appointed a dedicated Cross-Border and Preparedness Operations Manager since the end of the 2019-20 fire season, whose immediate priorities are to assess existing cross-border mutual aid agreements for emergency management.

Action 16.2: Ensure cohesive and consistent warnings and advice messages are broadcast along borders

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

Action 16.3: Work with relevant stakeholders across state borders to improve preparedness, response and integration

Emergency Management Victoria will work closely with relevant stakeholders in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania to implement improvements in emergency preparedness and response, including formalising procedures for deployment of liaison officers across borders.

Action 16.4: Clarify emergency management roles and responsibilities of the Victorian Cross-Border Commissioner

Prior to the 2020-21 fire season, Emergency Management Victoria will work with the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and the Victorian Cross-Border Commissioner to clarify emergency management roles and responsibilities of the Victorian Cross-Border Commissioner.

Building on this, the Emergency Management Commissioner will partner with the Cross-Border Commissioner to strengthen interstate relationships in relation to emergency management arrangements.

Action 16.5: Represent Victoria’s interests in Arrangements for Interstate Assistance in national Committees

The Emergency Management Commissioner will continue to strengthen the interests of Victoria through representation on the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee in relation to the Arrangement for Interstate Assistance.

Action 16.6: Identify cross-border risks and opportunities through Regional and Municipal Emergency Management Planning

Emergency Management Victoria and the sector will identify cross-border risks and opportunities through the Regional and Municipal Emergency Management Planning processes.

Action 16.7: Undertake scenario exercises with cross border emergency management partners

Undertaking scenario exercises with cross-border emergency management partners to foster interoperability and stronger relationships between states.

Action 16.8: Ensure interoperability of systems and standardised tools where possible to support cross border assistance

Victoria will work with other states to ensure interoperability of systems and standardised tools as far as possible, to support cross-border assistance.

An update on these actions can be found in IGEM’s progress report

Updated 5 August 2022

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