Published Thursday, 12 April, 2007 at 03:45 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
BEATTIE TO PUSH FOR BETTER DISASTER PLANNING
Premier Peter Beattie will push for a more coordinated approach to national disaster planning at tomorrow’s COAG meeting in Canberra.
Mr Beattie said the recent threat of a tsunami hitting Australian shores had exposed flaws in the nation’s preparedness for certain disasters.
“Australians are well versed in dealing with natural disasters such as bushfires or cyclones,” Mr Beattie said.
“Over the years these disasters have unfortunately become regular occurrences and we have been able to develop very effective methods of preparing and recovering from their impact. The proof is our own experience with Tropical Cyclone Larry.
“However, climate change is going to expose our country to more frequent and severe natural disasters – worse than has been faced in thousands of years.
“We face increasing risk from cyclones, storm surges, sea level rises, bushfire, heatwave, drought and increase in the spread of diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River fever, and Japanese encephalitis.
“We need to be more proactive in our planning for these disasters and consider a shared investment in initiatives such as mobile desalination plants which can be moved to areas hardest hit by drought.
“We also need a better early warning system for tsunamis and I will be suggesting a national community information and warning system with consistent protocols be progressed urgently through the Australian Emergency Management Committee.
“I will also continue my push for the Federal Government to accelerate the deployment of buoys as part of a better early warning system.
“They have indicated this work will not be completed until at least 2008. That is simply not good enough.
“Australian communities should not be put at risk for another two years because of a lack of funding or lack of will on the part of the Federal Government.
“I also want modelling and simulation capability on tsunami events to be fast tracked as a matter of priority, led by Geoscience Australia, in consultation with States and Territories.
“This modelling is particularly important because gaps exist in the data and modelling currently available. In a fast impacting event such as a tsunami it is essential sufficient warning is given and actions taken to enable people to escape from the potential impact zone.
“In relation to tsunamis I will also discuss the need for a communications system capable of better disseminating time-critical information to affected communities. Any potential system would be inclusive of existing warning systems such as radio and television but supplemented by other possible modes such as fixed telephone lines and SMS messaging.”
Mr Beattie said he also believed a national cooperative research centre on disasters should be established to undertake more research and development.
“We already have a similar centre based in Victoria looking specifically at bushfires but I think Queensland would be the ideal location for a centre to look at the bigger ‘all hazards’ picture and the impact of all natural and man made disasters including terrorism,” he said.
12 April, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Mr Beattie said the recent threat of a tsunami hitting Australian shores had exposed flaws in the nation’s preparedness for certain disasters.
“Australians are well versed in dealing with natural disasters such as bushfires or cyclones,” Mr Beattie said.
“Over the years these disasters have unfortunately become regular occurrences and we have been able to develop very effective methods of preparing and recovering from their impact. The proof is our own experience with Tropical Cyclone Larry.
“However, climate change is going to expose our country to more frequent and severe natural disasters – worse than has been faced in thousands of years.
“We face increasing risk from cyclones, storm surges, sea level rises, bushfire, heatwave, drought and increase in the spread of diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River fever, and Japanese encephalitis.
“We need to be more proactive in our planning for these disasters and consider a shared investment in initiatives such as mobile desalination plants which can be moved to areas hardest hit by drought.
“We also need a better early warning system for tsunamis and I will be suggesting a national community information and warning system with consistent protocols be progressed urgently through the Australian Emergency Management Committee.
“I will also continue my push for the Federal Government to accelerate the deployment of buoys as part of a better early warning system.
“They have indicated this work will not be completed until at least 2008. That is simply not good enough.
“Australian communities should not be put at risk for another two years because of a lack of funding or lack of will on the part of the Federal Government.
“I also want modelling and simulation capability on tsunami events to be fast tracked as a matter of priority, led by Geoscience Australia, in consultation with States and Territories.
“This modelling is particularly important because gaps exist in the data and modelling currently available. In a fast impacting event such as a tsunami it is essential sufficient warning is given and actions taken to enable people to escape from the potential impact zone.
“In relation to tsunamis I will also discuss the need for a communications system capable of better disseminating time-critical information to affected communities. Any potential system would be inclusive of existing warning systems such as radio and television but supplemented by other possible modes such as fixed telephone lines and SMS messaging.”
Mr Beattie said he also believed a national cooperative research centre on disasters should be established to undertake more research and development.
“We already have a similar centre based in Victoria looking specifically at bushfires but I think Queensland would be the ideal location for a centre to look at the bigger ‘all hazards’ picture and the impact of all natural and man made disasters including terrorism,” he said.
12 April, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500