Fresh call to be aware of Australia’s ‘secret killer’ ahead of sweltering summer

Aussies are being warned of a “secret killer” over the sweltering summer break, following confirmation 2023 was the warmest year on record.

Community pools, libraries, shopping centres and cinemas must be kept accessible in a bid to stop Australia’s secret killer — heatwaves.

Australia is set to swelter this summer and authorities are concerned about the impact of extreme heat over the next two months.

More than 150 representatives from local government, shopping centre administrators and cinema operators were briefed by the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) on Friday.

Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt, who convened the meeting, said the federal government took the threat of heatwaves seriously.

“Heatwaves are this country’s secret killer,” Senator Watt said after the meeting.

The country is set to swelter this summer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“That’s why we are working with local governments and the private sector to ensure that we are better prepared than ever before.”

The NCM brings together all levels of Australian governments, industry and the not-for-profit sector to harness whole-of-nation efforts to respond to complex events.

Over the past decade heat has killed close to 300 people and hospitalised more than 7,000, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Representatives were briefed by the Bureau of Meteorology on the seasonal outlook.

The Department of Health and Aged Care also raised awareness about heatwave mitigation planning.

The BOM says the risk of extreme heat is above average. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

European Union scientists confirmed earlier this month that 2023 would be the warmest year on record.

It comes as Australians have been warned to stay cool ahead of another weekend of heatwave conditions.

Severe heatwave conditions are being felt over coastal parts NSW and Queensland with a heatwave warning in place for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Northern Tablelands and South Coast District and Gulf Country and Southeast Coast Districts.

The hot weather system will then contract northward by the weekend and into next week, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Low intensity to severe heatwave conditions will be felt over much of interior and northern WA, parts of western and northern NT and northwest SA as well.

Sydney has endured the warmest start to summer on record, prompting warnings for households to consider what appliances they are using while they have the airconditioned running.