Joint media release with the Hon Anthony Albanese MP and the Hon Clare O'Neil MP
The Australian Government's response to the continuing flood emergency across eastern and southern Australia has benefitted from an upgrade to the country's national all-hazards headquarters.
A significant capability upgrade of the Australian Government National Situation Room (NSR) was recently completed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
The NSR provides 24/7 crisis management information and whole-of-government coordination capabilities and supports NEMA in leading coordination efforts across states and territories, private sector and industry.
Technological and logistical improvements inside the NSR will ensure staff can react swiftly to arising issues and ensures greater collaboration between a range of third-party agencies including other Australian government departments, state and territory governments and not-for profit organisations like the Red Cross.
The NSR's value as a secure facility providing all-hazards situational awareness, impact and consequence analysis has proven vital during the current ongoing and extensive storms and flooding, that has impacted five states since October.
The information the NSR has been able to rapidly pull together from various credible sources is helping the state-based emergency services to plan and prepare.
It provides critical advice to Government, reducing the time taken to deliver support to impacted communities. This capability can be applied across incidents of any nature.
The National Security Hotline which is the central point of contact to report concerns about possible signs of terrorism or foreign interference in our community, is also operated out of the facility. Since its formation, over 400,000 calls have been received by the Hotline.
The National Situation Room (NSR) previously known as the Australian Government Crisis Coordination Centre (CCC) was established in 2011 as part of the then Emergency Management Australia.
The NSR is paramount in the Australian Government's response to disasters, responses and preparedness activities since its establishment including:
- The Lindt Café siege 2014
- The Tham Luang Cave Rescue 2018
- Christchurch mosque shootings 2019
- Black Summer Bushfires 2019 - 2020
- Afghanistan Repatriation 2021
- COVID19 Response 2021- 2022
- Eastern Australia Floods 2022
Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese
"Enhancement of the National Situation Room forms part of a larger program of work to strengthen emergency management functions which include preparedness for, response to and recovery from disasters.
"These upgrades allow for the rapid scaling up in support of crisis events, including co-location of officials from across the Australian government and impacted states and territories."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt
"This is another demonstration of the Australian Government's commitment to effective end-to-end disaster management, from crisis response through to early recovery, longer-term recovery and preparedness against future disasters.
"Through the National Situation Room, NEMA works collaboratively with relevant government agencies and emergency management organisations to manage crisis situations and ensure that Australian communities are well prepared for future disasters."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O'Neil
"The NSR is invaluable in responding to rapidly escalating incidents including counterterrorism or cyber security threats.
"By bringing together all the relevant agencies into one room we can respond quickly to life-threatening crises as they occur."
