Keeping Communities Safe

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Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management

Keeping Communities Safe

14 December 2021

The Australian Government has today launched a $2 million national campaign to ensure Australians impacted by bushfires and other natural hazards better understand what to do when they receive a warning message.

The national campaign is in response to a recommendation from the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

The Australian Warning System will provide nationally consistent warnings through three warning levels: Advice (yellow) – Watch and Act (orange) – Emergency Warning (red). Using consistent colours, symbols and messaging.

In Tasmania, the Australian Warning System has been in place since September 2021 to alert the community of bushfires. Later in 2022, the Australian Warning System is expected to also be used to warn the Tasmanian community of flood incidents.

Tasmania has worked closely with other fire and emergency service agencies across the country to establish this new system.

The system aims to provide simple and consistent warnings, to help Australians make the most appropriate decisions for their safety during a range of emergencies and disasters.

For more information visit www.australianwarningsystem.com.au

Tender released for $3.6 million Southern Special Operations Group facility

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Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management

Tender released for $3.6 million Southern Special Operations Group facility

18 September 2021

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has a plan to keep Tasmanians safe which is why we are investing $3.6 million in the 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget to build a southern-based Special Operations Group (SOG) facility.

The Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management has today released the Request for Tender for the Southern SOG facility, which will be open from 18 September until 19 October 2021.

SOG officers are highly trained and equipped to respond to a wide range of security situations, and can be deployed during high-risk policing incidents in response to security threats or to support criminal investigations.

This investment builds on the $8.9 million announced in last year’s Budget to employ an additional 20 SOG officers over four years, and an investment of $1 million to build a purpose built SOG facility in the North.

In the short term, the additional officers will support Tasmania’s COVID-19 response capacity in areas such as quarantine checking, compliance and assessment, which are critical services in helping to keep our community safe.

Supporting the health of our emergency service workforce and volunteers

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Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management 

Supporting the health of our emergency service workforce and volunteers

10 August 2021

The Health and Wellbeing Support team within the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management will be bolstered following a $1.5 million investment from the Tasmanian Liberal Government as part of our plan to keep Tasmanians safe.

We recognise the challenging work that our emergency services personnel undertake and the risk factors that can impact their mental and physical health, which is why this additional funding will take the annual funding for the Agency’s Wellbeing Program to $3 million.

Delivering on the commitment outlined in our First 100 Day Plan, the Government has now concluded consultation with our emergency services on the best outcomes for the additional $1.5 million investment into their health and wellbeing.

As a result, the additional funding will deliver a Health and Wellbeing Team of 23 staff including increased numbers of Wellbeing Support Officers, psychologists and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Support roles.

The MyPulse program will also be extended to the more than 5,600 Tasmanian emergency services volunteers who often put their lives on the line to protect our communities.

MyPulse is a proactive and preventative program that focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of our emergency services workforce.

It includes health clinics, physical and mental health screens, a resource library, learning modules and other interactive tools on matters that are particularly relevant to emergency services responders.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government recognises the critical role our first responders play in protecting Tasmanians, and protecting their health and wellbeing is our top priority.