NEMA chief says Defence force should not be ‘first call’ in Australia’s natural disaster response

The man in charge of guiding Australia’s response to natural disasters and national emergencies has made a bold call on the use of Defence personnel.

The senior bureaucrat tasked with Australia’s management of emergency situations says sending in Defence troops should not be the “first call” during natural disasters.

During a media briefing ahead of the high risk weather season between October to April, acting chief of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Joe Buffone said the “primary role” of the Australian Defence Force was to defend Australia.

While the ADF do assist “significant disaster” during the “urgent emergency life saving space”, they should not be involved in recovery efforts.

ADF troops have been on the frontline assisting with disasters, including following major floods in Brisbane in March 2022. Picture: NewsWire/ Dan Peled

“They are not looking at continuing to support recovery efforts unless it is of a scale that they need to support,” Mr Buffone said.

“They’ve got to focus on their primary role, which is defending Australia.

“You’ve seen recently that where the requirement is there, they will support but after we have exhausted our other options, so they don’t want to be the first call for emergency response or supporting disasters.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast increased flood risks for Australia’s east coast, particularly in northern and eastern NSW and southeastern Queensland, above average rainfall in central and eastern Australia and an increased risk of extreme heat in far northern Australia in spring and early summer.

Acting NEMA Co-ordinator General Joe Buffone said Australia should not rely on the ADF for its disaster management and response. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

There is also an increased bushfire risk of spring bushfires in parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, however BOM will release its official summer bushfire outlook in November.

The 2023 Defence Strategic Review sounded the initial warning bell that Defence was not “not structured or appropriately equipped” to concurrently defend Australia while also assisting in disaster recovery.

Australia’s inaugural National Climate Risk Assessment also warned against the “growing reliance” of the ADF for disaster responses which could erode public trust if the armed forces was perceived to be “overstretched”.

This is as the dual risks of geostrategic tensions and the increase of climate-related weather events like intense tropical storms and cyclones, bushfires, flash flooding and coastal hazards due to rising sea levels grows.

Originally published as NEMA chief says Defence force should not be ‘first call’ in Australia’s natural disaster response