Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC325-4328 | 9 - Community education | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services establish a community education program by 1 November 2023 that complements the implementation of the Australian Warning System. An evaluation process should be incorporated into the program to determine effectiveness. |
REC325-4334 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services develop and publish an operationally based quick reference guide that complements the training offered (as per Recommendation 5) by 1 November 2022. The guide will identify key and critical aspects of the Emergency Alert system in relation to the development, composition, request for and authorising of Emergency Alerts and will include a template and an example of ‘good’ messaging using concise, minimal language and Clear Explicit Translatable Language (CETL). |
REC325-4324 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services review the tasking protocols used to manage State Emergency Service (SES) tasks undertaken in the response phase of a disaster to enable more complete recording of details for all ‘jobs of opportunity’ (including the personal details of those assisted and/or rescued) to enable better coordination of tasks and reflect outcomes of activities by 1 November 2023. |
REC325-4338 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the Bureau of Meteorology investigate options for the consolidation of ownership, renewed capital and maintenance in the flood warning network in consultation with flood warning infrastructure asset owners. |
REC325-4325 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services review and implement State Emergency Service (SES) protocol by 1 November 2023 outlining procedures to be undertaken to ensure persons uplifted from places of immediate danger or risk are transferred to a place of safety. |
REC325-4326 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services lead an inter-agency IT system assessment with Queensland Police Service and local governments to identify disaster management systems currently in use and develop options to enhance connectivity and interoperability between systems. Outputs to be considered include, but are not limited to, consideration of requests for assistance (RFA) and the production of situation reports. |
REC325-4327 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends all local governments that offer an opt-in system develop strategies to increase the number of subscribers who elect to use this service. As part of the annual disaster management plan assessment process for the period 2023–2025, the Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management will request information from the relevant local disaster management groups to highlight and share innovative practices that have led to an increase in subscription levels for opt-in services. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC324-4309 | 12 - EM agency and authority | SES and RFS back-office merger: That, to help protect life and property across NSW in storm and flood events, and to improve resourcing and NSW State Emergency Service (SES) frontline capability, Government implement, before the next storm season, a merger of the SES and NSW Rural Fire Services (RFS) back-office and corporate service functions, while maintaining their separate legislative identity, brand, uniform and volunteer membership. This ‘joined-up’ RFS/SES corporate support structure would be under the command of the RFS given its corporate and operational maturity and would be responsible for: |
REC324-4297 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Housing , especially social housing: That, to ease housing stress in flood prone areas and ensure new development is resilient and community-centred, Government pursue a multi-pronged, decadal strategy through: |
REC324-4320 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Knowledge resources to support flood management: That, to provide more accurate and complete data for flood threat identification, warning and modelling systems, Government through the proposed new NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) work with the Australian Government to: |
REC324-4311 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Transition initiatives: That, to improve the community’s experience during immediate disaster recovery phase, Government through the SEOCON, NSWRA, DCS/Service NSW and other state agencies as required provide greater support (financial, health [including mental health], temporary accommodation, administrative and other support services) to affected communities by: |
REC324-4301 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Floodplains as assets: That, to establish the capacity and maximise the economic, social and environmental potential and consequently unlock the value of NSW floodplains, Government adopt the following guiding principles for floodplain management: |
REC324-4312 | 17 - Assets and technology | Impact to essential services: That, to minimise disruption to essential services, including outages which compromise basic communication coverage, and to ensure access to safe water supply and power during flood events, Government work directly or together with the Australian and other state governments and/or their relevant power and telecommunications regulatory, policy and market bodies to: |
REC324-4302 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Disaster adaptation plans for all towns: That, to establish realistic expectations of safe spaces to live and deliver much needed housing quickly, Government through NSWRA working with local government: |
REC324-4316 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Resilience NSW and recovery: That, in order to enhance NSW disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and meet the needs of the people of NSW prior to, during and after a disaster, and provide clarity on agency roles and responsibilities, Resilience NSW be reshaped to ‘Recovery NSW’. The new agency will be more streamlined and agile to drive recovery in the first 100 days post disaster. To achieve this, Resilience NSW’s functions should be reallocated as follows: |
REC324-4306 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | NSW Reconstruction Authority: That, to provide rapid and effective recovery from floods (and other disasters) and to provide maximum mitigation of the impacts of future floods (and other disasters), Government establish a permanent state-wide agency, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) dedicated to disaster recovery, reconstruction and preparedness. The NSWRA should: |
REC324-4317 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Flood rescue capability: That, to help improve the protection of life across NSW in flood events: |
REC324-4307 | 9 - Community education | Flood education: That, to build disaster resilience in future generations as floods and other natural disasters are a fact of Australian life, the Department of Education should design, implement and deliver an evidence-based, targeted education campaign (like sun exposure) in schools (new disaster curriculum). |
REC324-4293 | 17 - Assets and technology | Essential services and floodplain infrastructure: That, to minimise disruption to essential services (power, communications, water, sewerage) and to ensure flood infrastructure is fully serviceable before flooding, Government ensure: |
REC324-4318 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Permanent SEOCON: That, to improve NSW’s ability to prepare and respond to floods and other disasters, Government establish a new Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police Force to take on permanently the SEOCON role. This role, in addition to current SEOCON functions, would be responsible for: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC323-4289 | 33 - Relief and recovery | That the NSW Government ensure that all emergency and recovery plans, including state plans, local emergency management plans and functional area plans, are reviewed and updated regularly and provide clarity on the role of non-government partners. |
REC323-4269 | 33 - Relief and recovery | That the NSW Government address the mental health needs of local communities following the February-March 2022 floods by: • embedding within state emergency and recovery plans a strategy that provides surge capacity for mental health and social workers by: • prioritising funding for community groups that are currently providing social and mental health support to their local communities • ensuring all flood-impacted communities receive the mental health support they need to fully recover. |
REC323-4291 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the NSW Government consider abolishing Resilience NSW if it is unable to ensure: |
REC323-4271 | 33 - Relief and recovery | That Service NSW establish teams of assessors that can be on the ground to assess and approve grant applications. |
REC323-4292 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the NSW Government consider a restructure of the NSW State Emergency Service with consideration to: realigning the focus of the organisation to harness local knowledge and networks; coordinating more closely with other rescue agencies to bolster its capacity to respond; and increasing salaried staff and resources, and driving volunteer recruitment. |
REC323-4273 | 33 - Relief and recovery | That the NSW Government overhaul the way in which it conducts its grants process as it frustrated applicants and further traumatised them by repeatedly re-interviewing them and making them prove that they were flooded. |
REC323-4256 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the NSW Government work with relevant agencies and local landowners to find ways to improve the management of drainage channels including looking for recommendations to reduce red and green tape. |
REC323-4285 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the NSW Government, in consultation with telecommunication providers and satellite communication providers, investigate ways to minimise the complete loss of telecommunication services in natural disasters, including: |
REC323-4277 | 33 - Relief and recovery | That the NSW Government develop a more proactive, rapid response to manage animal welfare following natural disasters which includes improved collaboration and communication with local veterinarians and animal welfare organisations. |
REC323-4262 | 33 - Relief and recovery | That the NSW Government provide an increased level of targeted support to flood affected communities contending with widespread mould. |
REC323-4286 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the NSW Government advocate through the National Cabinet for the Bureau of Meteorology to review its rain data infrastructure and flood modelling tools, to ensure forecasting locations, rain and flood gauges and other infrastructure are appropriately placed, maintained and updated. |
REC323-4263 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the NSW Government prioritise support for the full restoration of sewage treatment facilities on the Richmond River, for the benefit of communities in the Northern Rivers region. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC311-2502 | 9 - Community education | To enable the community to make informed choices about disaster management, and act on them, Sunwater develop and deliver a sustainable long-term communication strategy on the community safety issues and |
REC311-2501 | 9 - Community education | To enable the community to make informed choices about disaster management, and act on them, a joint Sunwater/council community engagement program be conducted to prepare the community downstream from Paradise Dam for events in the 2019/2020 storm and cyclone season, including the possibility of a Paradise Dam failure. |
REC311-2500 | 9 - Community education | To enable the community to make informed choices about disaster management, Bundaberg and North Burnett regional councils and Sunwater undertake a community-informed audible test of the Paradise Dam siren. |
REC311-2489 | 9 - Community education | To enable the community to have a shared understanding of risks and enhance community engagement, flood scenarios in Emergency Action Plans be published, and in a format that can be utilised by public mapping systems. |
REC311-2503 | 9 - Community education | To enable the casual/itinerant worker and tourism sector, including those who do not have English as a first language, to make informed choices about disaster management, community engagement and communication strategies about Paradise Dam and floods in the Burnett river system be tailored to this sector. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC297-1256 | 9 - Community education | That SES and Tasmania Fire Service share resources and align their community education programs and adopt an all-hazards approach to awareness. |
REC297-1251 | 9 - Community education | That all councils include an easily identifiable website link for the public to locate their Municipal Emergency Management Plan and community safety information. |
REC297-1261 | 28 - Personal responsibility | That heightened awareness and action is needed by communities when BoM issues flood watches and related warnings. Councils and SES need to facilitate this. |
REC297-1260 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That DPIPWE clarifies responsibility for river restoration and riparian management and, having done so, communicates this to councils, landowners and other owners of relevant infrastructure. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC271-1531 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Banana Shire Council completes business continuity planning as a matter of priority, including documentation and testing of the plan. |
REC271-1525 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Department of Energy and Water Supply, in conjunction with SunWater, seek clarification of the dam owners’ legal obligation to comply with Emergency Action Plans and, if required, investigate how a more flexible approach may be adopted. |
REC271-1524 | 9 - Community education | SunWater provide downstream residents with easily understood information regarding operation of the dam, and the impacts that various outflows may have for them, in accordance with mapping prepared for the Emergency Action Plan. This information should be complementary to any information from the Banana Shire Council. |
REC271-1523 | 9 - Community education | Banana Shire Council coordinates the development of a strategy to significantly enhance public education regarding local disaster management arrangements within the Banana Shire, focusing on key identified risks. |
REC271-1532 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The evacuation sub-plan component of the Local Disaster Managment Plan should be reviewed, including any identified triggers for activation. Ideally, the plan should be tested in a live, multi-agency exercise prior to next summer. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC250-0795 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Regional Development Victoria should implement the recommendations from the Department of Planning and Community Development's review of the Community Recovery Fund to improve the delivery of relief and recovery programs in the future. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC238-0797 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Determine the appropriateness and the steps required to allow the reduction of full supply level by up to five metres and/or the implementation of alternative gate operation at Warragamba Dam for the mitigation of minor to moderate flood events in the short-term. |
REC238-0809 | 9 - Community education | Ensure the SES has the long-term capacity to plan and exercise for the full range of flood events in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley |
REC238-0806 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Review the adequacy of current arrangements for infrastructure reconstruction following a major flood event in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. |
REC238-0805 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Develop a Hawkesbury-Nepean Flood Recovery Plan, which identifies strategies and arrangement for recovery from severe floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. |
REC238-0812 | 9 - Community education | Develop mechanisms and arrangements to promote and provide greater access to flood risk information. |
REC238-0803 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Ensure effective flood gauging arrangements in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley |
REC238-0811 | 9 - Community education | Monitor, investigate and address community response to flood warnings |
REC238-0798 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Optimise the configuration of a raised Warragamba Dam for flood mitigation of the full range of flood events and water supply, with due consideration of upstream impacts. |
REC238-0810 | 9 - Community education | Undertake, coordinate and evaluate community education programs on flood risk and response. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC235-2809 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian National Audit Office recommends that the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport improve the arrangements for conducting value for money reviews of Victorian reconstruction projects by pursuing amendments to the operating protocol with Victoria to require that, at regular intervals, the Taskforce is provided with information on all reconstruction projects being delivered within the scope of the National Partnership Agreement. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC234-2811 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | In order to maximise the envisaged benefits from the Inspectorate’s program of value for money reviews, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) recommends that the National Disaster Recovery Taskforce improve the application of the sampling approach to make it more representative of the |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC233-1602 | 28 - Personal responsibility | Individuals without a mobile phone who are concerned about access to Triple Zero during a prolonged telecommunications outage could consider purchasing a low cost mobile phone with a charger to keep at home for use during such outages. Since mobile phones do not require SIM cards to make emergency calls (‘000’ and ‘112’), there will be no ongoing costs. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC232-2816 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Department of Health and Ageing work with the states and territories to provide a uniform notifiable diseases list across Australia, with consistent reporting requirements across each state and territory and consistent public health information on infectious diseases disseminated to the public. This work should be a priority of Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC). |
REC232-2826 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | The Australian Government coordinate the development of a highly skilled workforce which can respond effectively to a sustained pandemic in Australia. |
REC232-2814 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The relevant government agencies that have a significant role in managing the biosecurity threat develop a coordinated approach which addresses the health threats to Australians and recognises the impact on the economy. |
REC232-2825 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | The Commonwealth Government support the growth of vaccine development and production capacity for vaccines in Australia, to enhance Australia’s preparedness to respond to outbreaks of infectious disease in Australia, and in particular, pandemic influenza. |
REC232-2820 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | Having regard to the terms of the Torres Strait Treaty, the Department of Health and Ageing, Queensland Health, AusAID and the Papua New Guinea Government: |
REC232-2819 | 9 - Community education | The Australian Government, coordinated by the Department of Health and Ageing and in consultation with the wider Australian community, develop a national public awareness campaign to better inform and engage the travelling public about infectious disease issues. This campaign should cover the risks associated with travelling overseas, preventative measures that can be undertaken to minimise these risks, and screening measures used at the border to prevent the importation of infectious disease. |
REC232-2817 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | The Australian Government work with the state and territory governments to assess the viability of providing a centralised refugee and migrant health service in each state and territory, which would automatically refer people who move from immigration detention into the wider Australian community. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC217-1829 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Department of Sustainability and Environment should develop guidelines for streamlining the permitting system for works on waterways for incorporation in the revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy. An exemption process will be introduced, with particular application to identified reaches of rivers and streams that require ongoing vegetation management and maintenance: |
REC217-1828 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should clearly articulate the policy guidelines for the management of vegetation and debris in Victorian waterways, for the purposes of flood protection and mitigation, taking into account the localised potential flooding effects of in‐stream vegetation in townships. |
REC217-1838 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That statements of obligations, issued under the Water Industry Act 1994 for water authorities, be amended to include a provision whereby managing authorities must: |
REC217-1820 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop guidelines for the management of levees in emergencies, during and after a flood event, which can be incorporated into local flood response plans. The department will also provide, as part of these guidelines, a set of criteria for assessing the ongoing viability of ad hoc levees post‐flood. The Emergency Management Act 1986 will be amended to support the implementation of these guidelines. A more effective means for councils to remove illegal levees will also be examined by the Department of Sustainability and Environment. |
REC217-1837 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The state government give consideration to enacting legislation to provide protection from legal liability for public authorities conducting works on priority levees in good faith, acting reasonably and responsibly in the public interest, and in accordance with standards agreed to under approved schemes. Public authorities should not be excluded from liability if they have acted negligently. |
REC217-1816 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That the Department of Sustainability and Environment continue to invest in the auditing of Victoria’s levee systems, both public and private, so that the Victoria Flood Database contains reliable and up to date data, including information on levees’ location, height, condition and ongoing viability for flood protection. |
REC217-1834 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop clear policy for the coordinated management of rural drainage, clarifying the legal framework, and identifying authorities with responsibility for the management and ongoing maintenance of formal schemes, and their development: |
REC217-1830 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop a code of practice on the removal of vegetation around critical public assets, in consultation with councils, CMAs and asset managers. Regional Flood Strategies will support this code of practice as part of shared flood risk management planning. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC216-2863 | 9 - Community education | Management of community expectations: better understanding of what different groups within a community expect. |
REC216-2865 | 9 - Community education | Management of community expectations: further development of tools that would allow the community to more easily |
REC216-2864 | 9 - Community education | Management of community expectations: continued community education. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC215-1870 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Fire services can improve outcomes by using a pre-planned response to provide appropriate resources |
REC215-1878 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Regulators can help to achieve improved outcomes by acknowledging that changes to legislation and the BPEM guidelines may be required to help address the identified issues |
REC215-1872 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Fire services can improve outcomes by implementing standard procedures that ensure the welfare and safety of crews and the public are not compromised |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC210-0723 | 28 - Personal responsibility | Councils should support and encourage business owners to develop private flood evacuation plans by providing the following to business owners in areas known to be affected by flood: • information about the benefits of evacuation plans • contact details of relevant council and emergency service personnel for inclusion in evacuation plans. |
REC210-0730 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Emergency Management Queensland, in consultation with councils, should develop clear directives about: • the communication and reporting that should take place between the SES and disaster managers, including in relation to task allocation and completion, once disaster management groups have been activated • the communication and reporting that should take place between the SES and disaster managers, including in relation to task allocation and completion, once disaster management groups have been activated • the process for dealing with requests for assistance that exceed an SES unit’s capacity to respond them • the process for seeking extra support for an SES unit that has been overwhelmed by a disaster (whether by way of Emergency Management Queensland or the disaster management arrangements or both) • the role of SES liaison officers in communications with disaster managers about SES disaster operations • the role of incident controllers, and their teams, relative to those SES (or Emergency Management Queensland) personnel charged with the command of SES operations. |
REC210-0614 | 9 - Community education | Councils and the Queensland Government should display on their websites all flood mapping they have commissioned or adopted. |
REC210-0702 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Insurance Council of Australia should consider an amendment to Part 3 of the code which requires insurers to notify policy-holders of the information on which they relied in assessing claims. |
REC210-0749 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Queensland Government should amend the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 to designate the Minister as the person who must approve a flood mitigation manual. |
REC210-0689 | 9 - Community education | Councils should conduct education campaigns directed to ensuring that all residents and property owners in areas identified as being at risk of backflow flooding are aware of the circumstances in which backflow flooding can occur, the hazard it presents and what should be done if it occurs. |
REC210-0719 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Queensland Government should amend the Environmental Protection Act 1994 so as to permit an emergency direction to be given orally where it is not practicable to provide the direction in writing, with provision for its subsequent confirmation in writing |
REC210-0729 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Emergency Management Queensland should ensure its staff, SES members and disaster managers are familiar with the directive when it is developed. |
REC210-0604 | 9 - Community education | By reference to the order of priority determined in accordance with recommendation 2.5, the Queensland Government and councils should together ensure that the council responsible for each urban area in Queensland has access to current flood study information. This will include determining: a. a process or processes by which the flood studies will be completed, including the involvement of the Queensland Government and relevant councils b. how, and from whom, the necessary technical and financial resources will be obtained c. a reasonable timeframe by which all flood studies required will be completed. |
REC210-0701 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | Letters notifying policy-holders that their claims have been denied should, at a minimum, state the information upon which the insurer has relied in making the decision. These letters should also advise policy-holders that copies of the information will be made available upon request (in accordance with clause 3.4.3 of the General Insurance Code of Practice) and indicate how policy-holders can make a request. |
REC210-0747 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | Seqwater should ensure a legal review of the Wivenhoe manual and the North Pine manual is completed before the manual is submitted for approval. |
REC210-0686 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | SunWater and the Central Highlands Regional Council should determine the issues of ownership and responsibility for maintenance of the LN1 drain system in Emerald. |
REC210-0717 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Queensland Government should consider amending the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to provide a definition of the term ‘emergency’ for the purposes of section 468 of that Act. |
REC210-0770 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Queensland Government should legislate to oblige each owner of a referable dam to have an emergency action plan approved by the appropriate Queensland Government agency. Such plans should be reviewed periodically |
REC210-0728 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Emergency Management Queensland, in consultation with councils, should develop a directive that makes clear the authority of an officer of that agency to command a major SES operation. This could be expected to occur when a deployment of additional SES members is made to a region because the response needed is beyond the capacity of its local units. The directive should make clear the powers of the officer and his or her reporting responsibilities to disaster managers in these circumstances. Emergency Management Queensland must also ensure that any officer who assumes such a role has adequate training and skills in the conduct of disaster operations. |
REC210-0603 | 9 - Community education | The Queensland Government, in consultation with councils, should determine which urban areas in Queensland do not have access to flood information from a current flood study. The Queensland Government should rank those areas in order of priority in accordance with their need for updated flood information by reference to factors including: a. population b. sophistication of land use planning and emergency management measures already in place in those areas c. currency of any flood risk information available to the council d. approximate frequency of damaging floods in the area according to the historical record |
REC210-0700 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | Insurers should review their existing systems and processes and implement any improvements necessary to ensure that accurate and complete records of conversations with policy-holders are made. |
REC210-0735 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Crime and Misconduct Commission should investigate whether the conduct of Mr Tibaldi, Mr Ayre and Mr Malone relating to: • preparation of documents surrounding the January 2011 flood event, including the 17 January 2011 brief to the Minister, the 2 March 2011 flood event report, and statements provided to the Commission • oral testimony given to the Commission evidences offence/s against the Criminal Code, and/or official misconduct under the Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 committed by any, or all, of them. |
REC210-0680 | 9 - Community education | Queensland Urban Utilities, and other distributor-retailers and councils, that have identified a practice of stormwater drains being connected to sewerage infrastructure, should conduct a program of education to raise public awareness that this practice is illegal and impedes the operation of the sewerage infrastructure. |
REC210-0714 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Queensland Government should consider amending the Environmental Protection Act 1994 so that it allows for the relaxation of environmental authority conditions, by transitional environmental program or otherwise, as to discharge of water: • pre-emptively, in advance of rainfall or flooding events, or • for all mines in a catchment that is flooding. |
REC210-0760 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | CS Energy should amend its business procedure to remove any ambiguity as to the establishment of communications with Seqwater and to acknowledge the formal communications protocol regarding releases. |
REC210-0725 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The fire service should ensure that station officers are familiar with the procedure for contacting management when requesting the calling in of additional staff; and, in particular, that they have available to them the names and current telephone numbers of the officers to be contacted in the first instance, with alternative contact details in the event that those officers prove unavailable. |
REC210-0733 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Emergency Management Queensland should pursue the execution of the ‘Local Arrangements’ with councils where a Memorandum of Agreement is in place. The contents of the arrangements should be reviewed and updated regularly |
REC210-0679 | 28 - Personal responsibility | If the Queensland Development Code is amended to include provisions requiring homeowners to install sewage reflux valves, the Queensland Government should develop and make available to homeowners appropriate guidance material to assist them in meeting their responsibilities to maintain reflux valves. |
REC210-0712 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Queensland Government should legislate to clarify the purposes for which a transitional environmental program can be granted. In particular, if the government considers the transitional environmental program the appropriate regulatory mechanism to deal with the discharge of water from mines during flood, section 330 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 should be clarified to make it clear that it extends to that use. |
REC210-0759 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | CS Energy should review its emergency action plan and business procedures to ensure they are wholly consistent and give appropriate consideration to flooding as a possible emergency event. |
REC210-0699 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | When a policy-holder makes a claim, the insurer should ascertain the policy-holder’s preferred method of contact and ensure that it is used (with other modes of communication if necessary) to keep the policyholder informed about the progress of the claim. However, important decisions regarding the claim – for example, determinations about the outcome of the claim and settlement sums – should always be confirmed in writing. |
REC210-0724 | 28 - Personal responsibility | Councils should consider making available to business owners locality specific information that would assist them to develop evacuation plans for commercial premises, for example, any evacuation sub-plan created under Emergency Management Queensland’s disaster evacuation guidelines. |
REC210-0731 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Emergency Management Queensland should ensure its staff, SES members and disaster managers are familiar with the directives it develops in relation to these matters. |
REC210-0615 | 9 - Community education | Flood maps, and property specific flooding information intended for use by the general public, should be readily interpretable and should, where necessary, be accompanied by a comprehensible explanatory note. |
REC210-0703 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Insurance Council of Australia should amend clause 3.4.3 of the General Insurance Code of Practice so that it requires insurers to inform policy-holders of their right to request a review of an insurer’s decision to refuse to provide access to information on which it relied in assessing claims. |
REC210-0750 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The assessment of flood mitigation manuals should be completed by a person with appropriate expertise who has had no involvement in its development, at any stage, and who can be seen to be independent of all individuals who were so involved. |
REC210-0696 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | Carriers, councils and the Australian Communications and Media Authority should take into account the risk of flooding when considering the placement of telecommunications facilities. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC204-1920 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Attorney General gives urgent consideration to determining an ex gratia payment for: |
REC204-1917 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The review of the Health Act 1911 (WA) should include the following amendments: |
REC204-1910 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | As part of its review of its contract management processes, Tourism WA (with the Board of Tourism WA taking a lead role) should amend its contract template for event sponsorship to ensure that: |
REC204-1907 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Department of Sport and Recreation facilitate the development of an Adventure Activity Standard for ultramarathons in order to determine a minimum safety standard for the sport. |
REC204-1921 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Coroner’s Act 1996 should be amended to give the Coroner jurisdiction to investigate fires that do not cause death, and that the Coroner should be suitably resourced to undertake investigations of the kind the subject of this Report. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC199-0464 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state develop and implement a strategy that maximises the flexibility and united capacity of the Country Fire Authority and Victoria State Emergency Service to respond to emergencies. |
REC199-0489 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state implement arrangements to improve the support provided to local government on disaster financing before, during and after emergency events. |
REC199-0405 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the state and the Bureau of Meteorology liaise to ensure the existence of appropriate quality control processes for gauges and contingency measures in the event that gauges are damaged during flood events. |
REC199-0473 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state make available to the public a clear guide of who is responsible for: • clean-up and recovery of various types of infrastructure that straddle the public/private boundary; and • the policies agencies will follow in determining whether to repair infrastructure under their control. |
REC199-0419 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the Bureau of Meteorology provide Incident Control Centres with real-time access to flood data held by the Bureau of Meteorology. This will require Bureau of Meteorology staff making themselves available to respond to enquiries from Incident Control Centres during a flood event. |
REC199-0454 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the State Emergency Response Coordinator further develop the Strategic Emergency Management Assurance Team process by involving subject matter experts from relevant emergency management control agencies who are the subject of Strategic Emergency Management Assurance Team focus. |
REC199-0479 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state review the way early outreach occurs and implement changes that will ensure that there is a consistency of approach regardless of which agency undertakes the service. |
REC199-0461 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state ensure: • water rescue/swift water rescue definitions, roles and responsibilities are clarified and communicated to all stakeholders to ensure common understanding • appropriate training, equipment and support is provided to those required to perform water rescue/swift water rescue. Common training programs, standards and accreditation should be utilised wherever possible to increase potential for joined up operations and maximised capability • that based upon the experiences of these flood events, an appropriate level of water rescue capacity and capability is established and maintained • flood plans (all levels) and flood emergency response planning incorporate consideration of pre-positioning of appropriate water rescue capability in the event that such services should be required; and • that revised water rescue roles, responsibilities and arrangements are clearly defined in the Emergency Management Manual Victoria and such definitions are replicated in all individual agency planning and operational documents |
REC199-0488 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the Department of Human Services develop proactive strategies to provide information and assistance for people applying for emergency grants. |
REC199-0404 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the state engage with the Bureau of Meteorology to establish a joint initiative to review existing flash flood warning systems in Victoria and identify where additional systems are needed, with a particular focus on urban centres with a history of flash flooding. This review should seek to achieve outcomes similar to those implemented in NSW. Subject to those outcomes being implemented, the state should determine which agency is responsible for flash flood warnings. |
REC199-0472 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state review the legislation and policies that set out clean-up and recovery responsibilities for infrastructure such as crossovers, culverts, drains, bridges and waterways, including consideration of: • whether the entities who are given obligations or powers to undertake clean-up works have the capacity to do so; and • the appropriateness of having different legal regimes for what is essentially the same piece of infrastructure. If the review reveals that the current responsibility matrix is inadequate, the state develop an action plan to address the identified shortcomings. |
REC199-0412 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the Bureau of Meteorology adjust its flood prediction models to incorporate water storage conditions (to enable it to issue more timely and useful flood predictions for communities based downstream of water storages). |
REC199-0452 | 17 - Assets and technology | the state ensure that any new systems and equipment purchased by state emergency management agencies are interoperable with other relevant agencies to the fullest extent possible. This should involve the state establishing a procurement gateway process with input from the Emergency Services Commissioner. |
REC199-0478 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state amend the current protocol governing National Registration and Inquiry System information collection and sharing to: • clarify the role of councils and Centrelink during and after emergencies • ensure the amended protocol is written in plain English and easily understood; and • coordinate, in conjunction with the state and federal privacy commissioners, the development of a new National Registration and Inquiry System information sharing protocol in line with the proposed National Registration and Inquiry System 6 and state or federal privacy legislation. |
REC199-0442 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state appoint a state emergency controller who is ultimately accountable for all major emergencies. |
REC199-0460 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | the state formalise and continue the Emergency Response Legal Advisers Forum. |
REC199-0487 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state develop and incorporate into emergency management planning regimes plans based on geographic risk, such as sub-regional plans |
REC199-0403 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the state and commonwealth undertake a review into the appropriate institutional arrangements for the forecasting and predictions function currently undertaken by Melbourne Water for the Port Phillip and Westernport region. |
REC199-0470 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the commonwealth consider including (as part of its review of standards for aged care services) requirements for: • robust ‘all hazards’ evacuation plans that include current after-hour contact details of people who are able to make authoritative decisions during an emergency; and • rehearsal of those plans. |
REC199-0411 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the Bureau of Meteorology undertake a review of its radar coverage in the context of flash and riverine flood warnings for Victoria, with a particular focus on known gap areas such as the Horsham/Nhill region. |
REC199-0443 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state reconfigure the Victorian Emergency Management Council and the supportive committee arrangements to ensure a comprehensive, accountable, effective and integrated approach to the development of emergency management arrangements is in place for Victoria. The process should also include consideration of the Security and Emergencies Committee and Central Government Response Committee roles, functions, reporting arrangements and relationships with other state level emergency management groups. Settled arrangements must be clearly articulated to ensure stakeholder understanding. |
REC199-0477 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the state review the potential for National Registration and Inquiry System 6 to provide a single point of information collection to both register individuals and plan the delivery of recovery services. If the review determines National Registration and Inquiry System 6 is unable to fulfil this function, the state should work with the commonwealth and other states to implement the necessary changes to National Registration and Inquiry System 6. If National Registration and Inquiry System 6 is unable to be developed as a single information collection system: the state should develop and implement a single point of information collection system, including how information obtained from outreach activities can be incorporated into this system and how such information may be linked into the Rapid Impact Assessment process. |
REC199-0431 | 9 - Community education | the state allocate core funding for the ongoing delivery of the ‘FloodSafe’ program to flood prone communities across Victoria. |
REC199-0459 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state undertake a complete review of emergency management legislation. This should include agencyspecific emergency management legislation and should focus on service interoperability and securing an ‘all hazards, all agencies’ capability |
REC199-0484 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state: • assess current risk and risk mitigation strategies for essential services, with a focus on ensuring that risks are appropriately identified at all levels of emergency planning; and • ensure that the responsible authority or owner/ operator of essential services put in place appropriate strategies to mitigate any risk to service continuity |
REC199-0469 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state update the current fire specific guidelines and resources for evacuation planning to take an ‘all hazards’ approach |
REC199-0491 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state: • ensure that the concerns raised by Victorians regarding the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements are provided to the national review, including the issues of: – betterment (what it means and how it is applied); and – the 51 per cent income rule for eligibility of businesses for grants. • establish a single point of information (such as the single web portal referred to in recommendation 33) on all emergency related financial assistance available to individuals, businesses and local government. The means of accessing this information should be widely circulated in the community. |
REC199-0410 | 17 - Assets and technology | the state take the necessary measures to upgrade existing manual stream and rain gauges and ensure that all future gauges provide a seamless transfer of data from the gauges to the Bureau of Meteorology. |
REC199-0476 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | the Department of Planning and Community Development examine strategies to address and clarify insurance coverage of community volunteers in emergency events |
REC199-0430 | 9 - Community education | the state undertake a community education program to inform households of their respective flood risk. This may include information on rate notices of heights of houses above flood level and educating people about flash flooding. |
REC199-0457 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state: • revise the Emergency Management Team Practice Note to include a template to ensure an appropriate and consistent approach to Emergency Management Team operations • provide the revised Emergency Management Team Practice Note to all stakeholders to enable familiarisation; and • ensure that there is regular exercising of Emergency Management Teams with an `all hazards’ focus. |
REC199-0483 | 9 - Community education | the state ensure: • where external assistance is provided to Victoria during emergencies, communities are advised of the specific purpose of that assistance, through media and other information channels; and • all agencies provide incident management personnel with information regarding the arrangements for tasking Australian Defence Force resources and that this advice is reinforced during emergencies where Australian Defence Force support is provided. |
REC199-0467 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state review and align all policies and procedures for evacuation, such as the interim evacuation guidelines and the State Health Emergency Response Plan, to ensure consistency and to clarify roles and responsibilities. |
REC199-0490 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state finalise the 2008 review of Victoria’s municipal assistance. This should include addressing: • the provision of upfront funding for local councils for repair of community assets • packages for early relief and recovery to be included in both the Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements and the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, including outreach packages; and • the process of reimbursement of local councils after floods. |
REC199-0409 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the Bureau of Meteorology should present water levels in both local datum and Australian Height Datum (gauge zero) for all its published information and warnings |
REC199-0474 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state, in respect of the Rapid Impact Assessment process: • resolve which agency/ies has policy and operational responsibility for this process • define the purpose of Rapid Impact Assessment; and • review the process, in light of the 2010–11 floods, to examine options to improve the efficiency of the collection of information. |
REC199-0423 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | the Bureau of Meteorology expand its volunteer amateur weather watch groups to enhance its weather and flood information gathering procedures. |
REC199-0456 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | the state: • ensure an ‘all hazards, all agencies’ approach to Incident Action Plan compilation is developed and implemented to enable the timely issue of functional Incident Action Plans. All agency incident action planning processes should be standardised to the fullest extent possible, including consideration of a library of pro-forma Incident Action Plans; and • develop and implement mechanisms to test and ensure that agencies possess satisfactory incident action planning capability and capacity for ‘all hazards’ at all levels of operations. |
REC199-0480 | 33 - Relief and recovery | the state clarify the transition to recovery arrangements including the processes for approving and funding of essential works after transition to recovery has been formalised. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC198-2901 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Fire Services Commissioner ensures that policy, operational procedures, systems and training relating to information and warnings that have been applied to bushfires are now also applied to other emergencies. In particular: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC197-1772 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA, in relation to developing any process for brigade support or career structure or position description for Brigade Administrative Support Officers, as referred to in Clause 8 of the 2010 Deed, consult with the VFBV and volunteers before reaching any decision on those matters. |
REC197-1738 | 12 - EM agency and authority | A. The CFA, in consultation with its volunteers and employees, determine and adopt a statement of Vision, Mission and Values. |
REC197-1758 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements contained in industrial agreements relating to the engagement of instructors with a view to increasing the ability and flexibility of the CFA to fill instructor positions and thereby ensure maximum training capacity to the benefit of CFA members, both volunteer and paid. |
REC197-1771 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, develop a comprehensive strategy for the administrative support of volunteer brigades to ensure that such brigades can operate efficiently and effectively. |
REC197-1737 | 12 - EM agency and authority | A. The CFA, in consultation with employers and volunteers, explore the establishment of employer consultation and support mechanisms along the lines of those developed by the Australian Defence Force. |
REC197-1746 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements relating to the employment of part‐time and casual employees. |
REC197-1769 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, explore and develop initiatives whereby qualified volunteers may be more utilised in Incident Management Teams. |
REC197-1736 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA and the Chief Officer continue to develop the initiatives outlined in relation to service delivery and standards, decision‐making and allocation of resources. |
REC197-1744 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangements relating to lateral entry and secondment. |
REC197-1766 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA as part of any examination of the utilisation of the NBN give priority to the establishment of internet access for brigades. |
REC197-1743 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA revisit with the UFU the arrangement relating to the recruitment of volunteer firefighters as an employee. |
REC197-1760 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA continue with its initiatives to implement the Garnock Report, keeping volunteers and paid personnel fully informed of progress and consulting with them in relation to the implementation. This implementation should be given priority, having regard to its importance. |
REC197-1773 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA continue, in consultation with volunteers, paid personnel and their representatives, its review of disciplinary arrangements and as part of that review consider the concept of the establishment of a Volunteer Ombudsman. |
REC197-1741 | 9 - Community education | A. The CFA further develop community education programs to specifically engage culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to address the importance of ethnic diversity. |
REC197-1759 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The CFA continue its consultations with the UFU to establish a satisfactory and workable process for the use of sessional instructors. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC187-2930 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That flood premium discounts be provided, in the same manner as for homes, to the bodies corporate of eligible properties, and on the same basis as for detached homes. |
REC187-2946 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That a national agency sponsored by the Commonwealth Government be established to undertake national coordination of flood risk management and to operate the system of premium discounts and the flood risk reinsurance facility. The Agency would: |
REC187-2962 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Insurance Council of Australia amend clause 4.5 of the General Insurance Code of Practice to extend the time within which claimants in natural disasters have the right to make further claims or lodge reviews after the finalisation of an initial claim to seven months from the date of the relevant natural disaster, regardless of when the initial claim was finalised. |
REC187-2967 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the current formula for the cost of rebuilding of State and Territory assets under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements be changed to expenditure before any insurance recoveries by the State or Territory rather than net of any insurance recoveries. |
REC187-2919 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all home insurance, home contents and home unit insurance policies include flood cover. |
REC187-2935 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That flood premium discounts not be provided to small businesses and that the reinsurance facility not offer reinsurance for small businesses. |
REC187-2951 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That access to insurance be enhanced through the development of alternative payment options, in particular: |
REC187-2924 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That whenever flood cover is included in home building insurance policies: |
REC187-2940 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That for home contents insurance policies, policyholders pay for that portion of the risk retained by the insurer and pay nothing for the remainder of the risk up to $100,000. For contents with a value greater than $100,000 policyholders then pay the full cost of the portion of risk exceeding $100,000. |
REC187-2956 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That a ‘health warning’ be provided by insurers to the purchasers of home and contents policies that do not include full flood cover or full replacement cover. The health warning should be provided: |
REC187-2929 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all home unit insurance policies include flood cover, in the same manner as for homes. |
REC187-2945 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That to facilitate flood risk information being made publicly available, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments grant indemnities to the providers of flood risk information if the information is obtained and provided in good faith and in the absence of any gross negligence. |
REC187-2961 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Insurance Council of Australia repeal clauses 4.3 and 4.4 of the General Insurance Code of Practice, so that claims arising from natural disasters are subject to the same minimum standards as other claims — including the four month time limit for a determination on liability and the nature of the loss/damage with respect to the claim. |
REC187-2918 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That an agency sponsored by the Commonwealth Government be created to manage the national coordination of flood risk management and to operate a system of premium discounts and a flood risk reinsurance facility, supported by a funding guarantee from the Commonwealth. |
REC187-2934 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all insurers offering small business insurance be obliged to include flood cover on an opt-out basis, instead of an opt-in/opt-out basis as at present, in all of their small business package policies. |
REC187-2950 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Commonwealth engage with the insurance industry and the States and Territories in planning for the future coordination of charitable and government payments to individuals to assist with recovery after future natural disasters. |
REC187-2966 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Commonwealth and State governments provide funding for legal advice and assistance with insurance disputes following natural disasters. |
REC187-2923 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That home building and home contents insurance should not be made compulsory. |
REC187-2939 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That for body corporate insurance policies receiving full discounts, policyholders pay for that portion of the risk retained by the insurer and pay nothing for the remainder of the risk up to $500,000 times the number of units. For properties with a value greater than $500,000 times the number of units policyholders then pay the full cost of the portion of risk exceeding $500,000 times the number of units. |
REC187-2955 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That, in endorsing the Government proposal for a Key Facts Statement, the Key Facts Statement list replacement cover and all natural disaster events, identified as ‘standard cover’ in the Insurance Contracts Regulations 1985. That insurers issue a Key Facts Statement to policy holders with all new policies written and all policy renewals on an annual basis. |
REC187-2928 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That there be limitations on the size of the discount available to high-value homes. |
REC187-2944 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Commonwealth seek reimbursement of some portion of the shortfall from the State or Territory government in whose jurisdiction the flood occurred. |
REC187-2960 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Insurance Council of Australia amend the Code of Practice to impose a four month time limit (subject to exceptional circumstances) to make a determination as to liability and the nature of the loss or damage with respect to a claim. That, should a claimant not receive a determination within the four month period, the claim be automatically escalated to an internal dispute resolution complaint and the insurer notify the Code Compliance Committee of the breach of the Code. |
REC187-2933 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That discounts be provided, in the same manner as for homes, to home contents insurance policies for eligible properties. |
REC187-2949 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all home, contents and home unit insurance policies cover the policyholder for storm surge, tsunami and landslide, where the storm surge, tsunami or landslide is the result of another event that is covered under the policy and regardless of whether the insured property directly suffers damage from the underlying insured event. |
REC187-2965 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That ASIC conduct a review of the General Insurance Code of Practice three years after the amendments recommended to the Code in this Review are implemented, in order to assess the effectiveness of the Code with a view to determining whether an ASIC Regulatory Guide for claims handling should then be introduced. |
REC187-2922 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all home building insurance policies include flood cover. |
REC187-2938 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That for home building insurance policies receiving full discounts, policyholders pay for that portion of the risk retained by the insurer and pay nothing for the remainder of the risk up to $500,000. For properties with a value greater than $500,000 policyholders then pay the full cost of the portion of risk exceeding $500,000. |
REC187-2954 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That subsection 35(2) of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 be amended so that policyholders are not deemed to be clearly informed of a deviation from ‘standard cover’ by simply being provided a copy of the insurance policy or product disclosure statement. |
REC187-2927 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The levels of the discounts and the phasing out periods be reviewed from time to time. |
REC187-2943 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Commonwealth Government guarantee payment of claims from the reinsurance pool by ensuring that, whenever a funding shortfall occurs in the pool through claims exceeding the funds held in the pool, the Commonwealth would meet the shortfall. |
REC187-2959 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That every APRA-authorised general insurer adopt and comply with the General Insurance Code of Practice. |
REC187-2932 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all home contents insurance policies include flood cover. |
REC187-2948 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That: |
REC187-2964 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Insurance Council of Australia amend the General Insurance Code of Practice such that the General Insurance Code Compliance Committee: |
REC187-2921 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Commonwealth Government guarantee the payment of claims by ensuring that, whenever a funding shortfall occurs in the reinsurance facility through claims exceeding the funds held in the facility, the Commonwealth would meet the shortfall and the Commonwealth would seek reimbursement of a portion of the shortfall from the State or Territory government in whose jurisdiction the flood occurred. |
REC187-2937 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That flood premium discounts be delivered through a model that requires insurers to retain and price a portion of the risk with the remainder to be ceded to the reinsurance facility at a discounted reinsurance premium. |
REC187-2953 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That all home building insurance policies providing sum insured cover be modified by the end of 2014 so as to include replacement value cover in the event of total loss of the home. That during the transition period insurers consider how the design features of home building replacement value policies should respond following a natural disaster, including the conditions under which cash settlements are to be offered and finalised. |
REC187-2926 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That flood premium discounts be provided for home building insurance for eligible homes: |
REC187-2942 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That a flood risk reinsurance facility, or reinsurance pool, be established which would have two primary functions: |
REC187-2958 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That, in order to give general insurance policyholders the same legal remedies as other consumers, unfair contract terms laws be applied to general insurance. |
REC187-2931 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the definition of a home for the purposes of flood cover and flood premium discounts be any building for which a homeowner purchases a home insurance policy. |
REC187-2947 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Agency charge insurers a small administrative fee for each policy ceded to the reinsurance facility. |
REC187-2963 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Insurance Council of Australia amend the General Insurance Code of Practice to require that: |
REC187-2968 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Government give priority to introducing legislation necessary to ensure that all home, contents and home unit insurance policies include flood cover and to establish a new national agency for flood risk management and flood reinsurance purposes. |
REC187-2920 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That a system of premium discounts be introduced in order that most purchasers of home insurance, home contents and home unit insurance policies in areas subject to flood risk be eligible for discounts against the full cost of flood insurance. |
REC187-2936 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the questions of flood cover as standard in small business policies and access to discounted premiums for small business policyholders should be revisited once the recommended arrangements for homes, home units and home contents are in place. |
REC187-2952 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That lending institutions remind mortgagors annually of their obligations to hold home insurance and of the risks of under-insurance in order to minimise non-insurance and under-insurance of homes. |
REC187-2925 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the following five principles underpin the design of a system of premium discounts: |
REC187-2941 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That homes at high and extreme risk of flood be provided with discounts initially and that they be assessed regularly for mitigation work already undertaken and the potential for further mitigation. |
REC187-2957 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Commonwealth Government introduce a standard definition of flood in the form proposed in the ‘Reforming flood insurance: Clearing the waters’ consultation paper. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC166-3005 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Coroner prepare a discussion paper and draft guidelines for the clarification of investigative roles of the Tasmania Police Service, the Tasmania Fire Service, and the Coroners Office for adoption in relation to future fires where a Coroner’s Inquest is established. |
REC166-3004 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the Tasmania Fire Service consider improvements in radio units installed in breathing apparatus: |
REC166-3003 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the Tasmania Fire Service provide additional training in power disconnection and improvements in communication between Tasmania Fire Service and Aurora: |
REC166-3000 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Tasmania Fire Service establish clear systems and protocols for dealing with fires. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC164-0072 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | SERCon consider that the proposed State Recovery Committee review the recommended considerations arising from |
REC164-0071 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | SERCon consider the establishment of a body, such as a State Recovery Committee, with responsibility for the |
REC164-0077 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | SERCon consider the continued development of a State Recovery Sub-Plan (including complementary local and district |
REC164-0076 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | SERCon consider meeting with the State Emergency Management Committee, Directors General and agency heads to |
REC164-0074 | 9 - Community education | SERCon consider a review of existing community-based educational programs, with a view to informing the community |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC154-3458 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | DPI should develop a surveillance strategy with agreed goals and a comprehensive, integrated approach to surveillance across the livestock value chain. The surveillance strategy should: |
REC154-3457 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | DPI should develop a strategy to deliver an integrated and coordinated approach to prevention and early detection across the livestock value chain. As part of the strategy DPI should: |
REC154-3456 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | DPI should more closely align planning and risk management processes to support its decision-making and response to changing priorities, capacity, capability and investment. |
REC154-3455 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Department of Primary Industries (DPI) should broaden the focus of its planning for biosecurity to include a longer term horizon and demonstrate closer alignment with national planning frameworks. To support this DPI should: |
REC154-3460 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | To support increased effectiveness in EAD (Emergency Animal Disease) response management DPI should: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC148-3155 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses include that a blood sample be taken while a horse is in pre-export quarantine. Part of the sample is to be retained in the country of export and another part of that sample is to be transported to Australia, preferably with the horse. Both parts are to be retained for at least three months. |
REC148-3174 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the operating procedures require, as a condition of entry for all non- AQIS personnel to a quarantine station, that each person report any suspected breach (by that or any other person) of quarantine procedures in the quarantine station and that a person may be excluded from entry to a quarantine station in the event of a breach of such procedures by that person or in the event of a failure of that person to report any suspected breach. |
REC148-3160 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That, before a horse is loaded on to an aircraft or vessel for carriage to Australia, AQIS verify that there exists such certification as is required by its import conditions up to the time the horse arrives at the airport of departure and that the horse complies with those conditions. This could be done by facsimile or electronic communication with AQIS officers in Australia. |
REC148-3183 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Quarantine Act 1908 be reviewed in order to identify amendments necessary to ensure that the Act clearly and adequately confers all relevant powers to ensure the biosecurity of horse importation and quarantine and to give effect to these recommendations. |
REC148-3165 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That there continue to be in Australia government controlled and operated post-arrival quarantine stations for horses. |
REC148-3153 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That premises be used for pre-export quarantine only if they have been approved by the officer responsible for the importation of horses and only if they have adequate biosecurity precautions that are the subject of documented procedures that can be audited. The import conditions for horses shall include a requirement that pre-export quarantine premises have been so approved. |
REC148-3173 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the operating procedures require that the duties of any people responsible for maintaining 24 hour security at a quarantine station (whether they be AQIS officers or private contractors) are recorded in writing and that those people have received training in relation to biosecurity risks sufficient to instil an appreciation of such acts or circumstances as might give rise to biosecurity risks. |
REC148-3159 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses specify that there be available for inspection at the port of loading and produced on the horse’s arrival in Australia, certification (including in electronic form) that the horse has been vaccinated, has had a blood sample taken during pre-export quarantine, and has passed a suitable detection test, currently either a quantitative PCR or an antigen-capture ELISA test for influenza A. |
REC148-3180 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses include that each horse be tested for equine influenza as close as practicable before the end of the quarantine period and that a negative result for that test be available before the horse may be released from quarantine. Until more sensitive and specific detection tests become available, an agent detection test for influenza A - either a quantitative PCR test or an antigen-capture ELISA test - should be used for that purpose. |
REC148-3164 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That there be similar facilities for the unloading and transfer of horses at any other airport in Australia that might receive horses imported from places other than New Zealand. |
REC148-3152 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That the person holding the position of Inspector General of Horse Importation may be removed in the following circumstances only: |
REC148-3172 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the operating procedures require that the manager of a quarantine station be responsible for ensuring that a written report on compliance with procedures is prepared and reviewed daily and that any non-compliance and corrective action are recorded. |
REC148-3158 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses specify, based on advice from Biosecurity Australia that is reviewed at least annually, the vaccines for equine influenza to be administered to horses before they are exported, taking account of the countries or regions from which the horses are exported. If there are commercially available vaccines that contain representatives of currently circulating strains, the import conditions should specify that the horses be vaccinated using that vaccine or one of those vaccines. Otherwise, the conditions should specify the vaccine or vaccines that may be used, based on the advice of Biosecurity Australia. |
REC148-3179 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses include that the nasopharyngeal swabs taken within 24 hours of arrival and five days after the last horse arrives in post-arrival quarantine be divided and the swabs made subject to a quantitative PCR test and a ‘rapid’ immuno-assay test to detect influenza A. The operating procedures should also require that these additional tests be conducted. |
REC148-3163 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That there be provided without delay at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) and Tullamarine Airports facilities to enable people who might have had contact with imported horses to shower and change their clothes, under supervision, before leaving the airport. |
REC148-3151 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That the person holding the position of Inspector General of Horse |
REC148-3171 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the operating procedures require that there be identified a person who has overall responsibility for the various clearance procedures and biosecurity tasks to be performed in the course of unloading horses at an airport and transferring them to a quarantine station. |
REC148-3157 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses include that the operations and procedures at the pre-export quarantine premises may from time to time, be inspected and audited by or on behalf of the Australian Government. |
REC148-3177 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the officer responsible for the importation of horses ensure that: |
REC148-3162 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That facilities for the unloading and transferring of horses at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne be constructed urgently, upon advice of experts in biosecurity containment, to enable adequate biosecurity precautions to be taken effectively and to minimise the risk of injury to horses and those handling them. |
REC148-3150 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the position of Inspector General of Horse Importation: |
REC148-3168 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That each government controlled and operated quarantine station have sufficient staff to carry out properly all activities and measures required by the current operating procedures dealing with the quarantine of horses. |
REC148-3156 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the import conditions for horses include that the horse be tested for equine influenza at a time as close as practicable to the end of the pre- export quarantine period. Until more sensitive and specific detection tests become available, an agent test for influenza A—either a quantitative PCR or an antigen-capture ELISA test—should be used. |
REC148-3176 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That there be prepared operating procedures or a manual that: |
REC148-3161 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That the facilities for unloading and transferring of horses at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport be upgraded without delay, following the advice of experts in biosecurity containment, so as to enable appropriate biosecurity precautions to be taken effectively and to minimise the risk of injury to horses and those handling them. The facilities should include at least one padded box or stall sound-proofed to the extent that it is reasonable to do so. |
REC148-3148 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry designate, without delay, a Senior Executive Service officer to be primarily responsible and accountable for the importation of horses into Australia and to that end to have the power to exercise all necessary authority. |
REC148-3166 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | That, in the absence of other satisfactory government controlled and operated post-arrival quarantine stations becoming available before the options to renew the leases of Eastern Creek and Spotswood Quarantine Stations expire, those options be exercised. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC134-3522 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | To improve the effectiveness of deployment arrangements for the National Medical Stockpile, the ANAO recommends that the Department of Health and Ageing: |
REC134-3521 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | To improve the management of the National Medical Stockpile, the ANAO recommends that the Department of Health and Ageing develop and implement procedures for: |
REC134-3520 | 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government | To improve the management of the National Medical Stockpile, the ANAO recommends that the Department of Health and Ageing incorporate into its governance framework: |
REC134-3519 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) recommends that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Animal Health Australia review: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC129-3632 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and develop distinct surge capacity plans within each Area Health Service to manage emergency staffing needs, isolation facilities, intensive care units, assisted ventilation services, hospital beds and medical supplies. |
REC129-3631 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and continue to develop plans to respond to the surge in demand for diagnostic tests and for laboratory personnel. |
REC129-3630 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and continue to develop systems to bring all the information relevant to the surge in demand for health resources together in real time. |
REC129-3621 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and establish a time table to finalise all emergency and contingency plans. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC128-3613 | 9 - Community education | That the Department of Primary Industries and Rural Lands Protection Boards employ outreach activities to alert these small producers to their responsibilities and improve their awareness of animal and plant pests and diseases. |
REC128-3612 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the Department of Primary Industries should ensure that it retains the services of a specialist poultry industry liaison officer in the future. |
REC128-3611 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the Department of Primary Industries should endeavour to improve its knowledge and skills base in the pig industry by recruiting a specialist pig industry liaison officer. |
REC128-3610 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Primary Industries consider amending the Stock Diseases Act 1923 to ban the supply of waste swill to pig owners by food retailing businesses such as bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets. |
REC128-3618 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Department of Primary Industries should complete a review of the Memorandum of Understanding and ensure the roles of the Department and Rural Lands Protection Boards are more clearly identified outlined for effective delivery of animal health programs. |
REC128-3599 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | In order to improve the response to animal health emergencies, that the Department of Primary Industries prioritise the finalisation of Memoranda of Understanding with the four jurisdictions bordering New South Wales. |
REC128-3615 | 9 - Community education | That the Department of Primary Industries should continue to raise awareness among producers of OJD risks and the operation of Sheep Health Statements. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC125-3900 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That agencies integrate condition information into their asset management decision-making practices and use it as the basis for validating asset valuations and depreciation calculations. |
REC125-3897 | 17 - Assets and technology | That agencies assess the cost-effectiveness of establishing a dedicated and proven asset management information system which is integrated with the other information systems used to manage drainage assets. |
REC125-3895 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That all agencies develop drainage asset management plans, consistent with best practice, and that these incorporate: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC112-3909 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That PSB’s enforcement procedures are consistent with those of the rest of the department. |
REC112-3921 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the recommendations of the 2000 DPI report into the reference collection’s storage facility be implemented, to secure the collection in a purpose-built facility. |
REC112-3908 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That DPI develops a department-wide enforcement policy and specific guidelines for Plant Standards Branch (PSB). |
REC112-3917 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That DPI improves monitoring and surveillance of high priority threats and improves the quality of information provided to the Commonwealth. |
REC112-3915 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That DPI makes arrangements to use contract labour for fruit fly trap monitoring and surveillance before the predicted fruit fly outbreak season. |
REC112-3927 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That PSB and PIRVIC review their service agreement to ensure that PIRVIC is compensated for its costs in providing PSB with the specified level of service. |
REC112-3914 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That DPI develops a consistent approach to recording and enforcing breaches of the certification and verification system. |
REC112-3924 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That DPI develops diagnostic protocols for high-priority threats, in conjunction with other jurisdictions and industry, as soon as practicable. |
REC112-3910 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992, Plant Health and Plant Products Act 1995 and Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 be registered with the Department of Justice’s PERIN system. |
REC112-3923 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That DPI negotiates access, as and when required, to an AQIS PC4- accredited laboratory. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC061-3409 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that one standard model of fire cover be developed for Victoria as a matter of urgency. |
REC061-3247 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services seek common national fire standards. |
REC061-3420 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board remain a statutory authority. |
REC061-3407 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board continue to exist. |
REC061-3245 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that collocation shall occur unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Minister that it is inappropriate. |
REC061-3419 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that: |
REC061-3257 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the FireVision concept used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be extended through the Directorate of School Education's Interactive Television Program to all emergency services and in particular to rural fire and emergency services. |
REC061-3244 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that, following the development of standards of fire cover, related standards be established for: |
REC061-3412 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services seek common national fire standards. |
REC061-3256 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that a new Board be appointed, consisting of nine members nominated by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and including the Chief Executive Officer who shall not be Chairman. |
REC061-3243 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that one standard model of fire cover be developed for Victoria as a matter of urgency. |
REC061-3411 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that collocation shall occur unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Minister that it is inappropriate. |
REC061-3255 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board remain a statutory authority. |
REC061-3422 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the FireVision concept used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be extended through the Directorate of School Education's Interactive Television Program to all emergency services and in particular to rural fire and emergency services. |
REC061-3241 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board continue to exist. |
REC061-3410 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that, following the development of standards of fire cover, related standards be established for: |
REC061-3254 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that: |
REC061-3421 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Committee recommends that a new Board be appointed, consisting of nine members nominated by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and including the Chief Executive Officer who shall not be Chairman. |