Independent Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard is concerned to learn from a WA Auditor General report that gaps exist in Western Australia’s emergency management framework.

“According to the Office of the Auditor General, gaps such as out-of-date emergency management plans and lack of proper identification of hazards could impair the State’s ability to effectively respond in a large-scale emergency,” said Dr Woollard.

“I was particularly disturbed to find out that local governments may not have emergency plans that meet Government’s standard.

“This is unacceptable because under sections 36 and 41 of the Emergency Management Act (2005), local governments are required to have in place local emergency management arrangements and they are largely responsible for the prevention and recovery phases of an emergency.”

Dr Woollard said that in light of these findings, she has asked the City of Melville to outline their local emergency management arrangements. These arrangements should clearly indicate among others, the policies for emergency management, roles and responsibilities of different authorities, list of probable emergencies and the strategies to respond to them.

“Drawing up arrangements is only one aspect of being prepared for emergencies as these arrangements need to be communicated to the local community who should be involved in testing them to see if they work well,” said Dr Woollard.

“While large-scale emergencies are dealt with by the State, it is important for local governments to have the ability to provide the initial response before help from the larger agencies arrive.”

Dr Woollard noted other local communities have played important roles in providing the first responses during large-scale emergencies such as the 2005 London bombings, the terrorist attacks in New York in 2001 and even in the recent Victorian bushfires.

“Emergencies cannot be anticipated, but the impacts can be mitigated if we are well prepared.

“With the winter rains already upon us, the local community needs to be assured that should a similar cyclone which destroyed Bicton Primary School in 2005 hits us today, the City of Melville is prepared,” said Dr Woollard.