NATIONAL SECURITY UPDATES

Excerpts from the Emergency Management in Australia website

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Article

May

3 May 2010: 2010 National Bushfire Arson Forum

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today announced new initiatives to combat deliberately lit fires as part of the second annual ‘National Forum for the Prevention of Bushfire Arson’.

5 May 2010: Attorney-General Meets Japanese Minister for Public Safety and Disaster Protection

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today met with the Japanese Minister for National Public Safety Commission and Disaster Protection, Hiroshi Nakai, to discuss cooperation on law enforcement issues in the region.

26 May 2010: $3.6 Million for Emergency Management Projects

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the Government will invest $3.6 million to assist Australian communities respond to and recover from natural disasters and emergencies.

June

4 June 2010: Commonwealth assistance for Lennox Head tornado victims

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by the tornado and severe weather in Lennox Head, New South Wales.

11 June 2010: Rudd Government provides Illawarra with $350,000 search and rescue vehicle

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, together with the Federal Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird, today handed over the keys to a new $350,000 search and rescue vehicle to be based at the Wollongong Fire Station.

19 June 2010: Better managing Triple Zero calls

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced a key initiative to better manage the volume of Triple Zero emergency calls made during major natural disasters or emergencies.

30 June 2010: Preparing kids for disasters and emergencies

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, launched new education materials to help school students better understand and prepare for natural disasters and emergencies.

The new materials, used for the first time today by students in years 4 and 5 at Jerrabomberra Public School, include an interactive media game, actual student experiences and lesson plans aimed at teaching kids how to be ready for an emergency.

“Using the latest technology to encourage students to understand their community, and what happens during and after a natural disaster—be it a bushfire, hailstorm, flood or even a tsunami—is a great way to ensure young people become more self-reliant if a natural disaster occurs,” Mr McClelland said.

The materials have a strong focus on personal stories and experiences and include:

• Dingo Creek – The Recovery: Raises awareness of local risks and impacts of disasters by introducing the recovery process through engagement with an affected community;
• Living with Disasters: Includes 10 digital stories from young people who experienced the events of Black Saturday in Victoria in order to learn how families and communities were affected; and
• People, Get Ready: Comprises four activities to build student understanding and awareness of emergency issues prior to a natural disaster occurring.

Dr Kelly said residents in Eden-Monaro were all too familiar with the need to prepare for natural disasters, from fires to floods and severe storms.

“These innovative resources will be a valuable addition to the important work that local emergency service agencies, volunteer groups and non-government organisations are doing to help Australians cope with disasters in the future.”

The materials are available from the Emergency Management in Australia website at www.em.gov.au/Education/Schoolseducation/Pages/default.aspx

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly with students from years 4 and 5 at Jerrabomberra Public School launching an interactive natural disasters and emergencies media game designed to teach kids how to be ready for an emergency.