Last Chance to Have Your Say on Green Paper
Victorians’ unique window of opportunity to shape the future of emergency management in Victoria is closing, as the deadline looms for submissions on the Victorian Coalition Government’s Green Paper Towards a More Disaster Resilient and Safer Victoria.
The Victorian Government recently issued the final call for all public submissions on a review into the state’s crisis and emergency management arrangements, ahead of the 14 November closing date.
The Green Paper represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform Victoria’s emergency management framework and aims to improve the State’s all-hazards, all-agencies approach during large and complex disasters.
The Green Paper has built on progress by the government to implement all 67 recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission, part of a statewide drive to create a more disaster-resilient and safer Victoria.
The discussion paper challenges current thinking about Victoria's crisis and emergency management arrangements and poses provocative questions about the practical options for reform. It was developed to overcome the barriers that prevented communities from receiving the highest possible service, particularly in times of critical need.
The review provides a range of options to address these objectives and will work closely with communities in developing future emergency management frameworks.
The government is considering all submissions made during the eight-week consultation period as well as the recommendations of the final report of the Flood Review due 1 December.
A White Paper outlining the government’s response and actions will be produced next year.
The Green Paper can be accessed at www.dpc.vic.gov.au from the homepage. Submissions can be made up until 14 November 2011.