The Australian Government Crisis Management Framework (the Framework) is the Australian Government’s capstone policy framing Australia’s national crisis management arrangements.
The Framework takes an all-hazards approach to crisis management, recognising the need for consistency across the Australian Government’s crisis management systems in preparation for the full spectrum of hazards that may affect life, property or the natural environment.
The Framework outlines how the Australian Government prepares for, responds to and supports recovery from crises by:
- providing an overview of the Australian Government crisis management arrangements
- outlining the Australian Government’s approach to crisis preparedness, including crisis preparedness arrangements and capabilities
- articulating the requirements for Australian Government responses spanning near-term preparedness, response, relief and early recovery by:
- designating the lead Australian Government ministers, senior officials and agencies required to coordinate responses to identified hazards
- outlining the roles and responsibilities of Australian Government ministers and senior officials
- detailing the approach to coordination for extreme to catastrophic crises.
The Framework focuses on crisis management arrangements for identified hazards (see Appendix A on p. 47). Within the context of the Australian Government Crisis Management Continuum (p. 10), the Framework does not address prevention, longer-term recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction. It is not intended for crises predominately managed by policy intervention, including financial and economic crises.
The Framework underpins Australian Government responses to crises that occur within Australia, including Indian Ocean Territories, Norfolk Island and the Jervis Bay Territory, as well as to crises that affect Australians and Australian interests overseas.
The Framework is intended for Australian Government ministers and senior officials with a role in crisis management. An accompanying Handbook to the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework (the Handbook) provides principles-based guidance for senior officials and their agencies on how to apply the Framework.
The Framework designates the following roles for each identified hazard:
- Lead Minister
- Australian Government Coordinating Agency
- Lead Coordinating Senior Official.
For more details on these roles, see the Principles section on p. 8 and the Roles and responsibilities section on p. 24.
The Framework outlines arrangements to support whole of Australian Government and national coordination in response to crisis. Whole of Australian Government coordination encompasses all Australian Government portfolios while national coordination refers to the inclusion of all government jurisdictions and other key stakeholders as relevant. Australian Government agencies work across both whole of Australian Government and national coordination.1
Footnotes
- ‘Australian Government’ refers to government entities commonly described as ‘federal’ or ‘Commonwealth’, such as the Australian Government Department of Education. ‘National’ is broader in scope – it includes the Australian Government, state and territory governments, local governments, industry, civil society and any other entities that have interests in a crisis. Return to footnote 1↩