Green paper Part C: The way forward

The Government's reform goals for crisis and emergency management focus on:

• service delivery to Victorians across government and communities;
• building community resilience;
• achieving a genuine 'all hazards, all agencies' approach; and
• enduring and sustainable change.

These goals will be achieved by:

• enhancing capacity for whole-of-Victorian Government planning and preparedness for prevention, mitigation, response and recovery;
• renewing legislation and governance arrangements;
• removing legislative, policy and cultural impediments; and
• embedding a culture across government and ESOs focused on community engagement and building disaster resilience.

The review process

The review of Victoria's emergency management arrangements is being jointly coordinated by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Justice.

Consultation and feedback

The Victorian Government is seeking feedback from interested parties on the options set out in this Green Paper. For information on how to make a submission see: www.dpc.vic.gov.au/victoriaprepared

The Department of Premier and Cabinet and Department of Justice will arrange sessions with key emergency management agencies to seek their input and advice on the suggested options.

Timeline for reform

The Victorian Government will be seeking feedback on this Green Paper until 14 November 2011. Following this, feedback will be reviewed and further information sought where necessary. Mr Neil Comrie is expected to present his Final Report to Government on the Review of the 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response by 1 December 2011.

These two processes will inform the development of a policy proposal on how to reform Victoria's emergency management arrangements. This policy proposal will be released in the form of a White Paper in 2012 which will lead to major amendments to Victoria's legislative and policy framework.

While this review is underway, the Victorian Government will continue implementing recommendations from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and identifying short-term measures to improve emergency management arrangements in preparation for the next fire season.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

For an explanation of terms used in this Green Paper, refer to the glossary contained in Part 9 of the Emergency Management Manual Victoria, available at www.oesc.vic.gov.au