- Establishing National Support for Natural Disaster Responses
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Australia is experiencing an unprecedented rise in natural disasters due to climate change, threatening lives, homes, and the environment.
The Greens’ plan prioritises a proactive and unified approach to natural disasters, equipping Australia with the resources and capabilities to respond swiftly and effectively.
The Greens’ plan:
- Establish a National Disaster Response Unit (NDRU) to provide a specialised, rapid-response capacity for natural disasters.
- Invest $375 million to procure a national aerial fleet, including very large air tankers, helicopters, and other aircraft, to respond to fires, floods, and other extreme weather events.
- Base aircraft and crew in strategic locations nationwide to enable timely and efficient disaster responses across diverse terrains.
- Provide $50 million annually to employ up to 200 specialised staff, including aviation crew, on-the-ground responders, and technical and administrative personnel.
- Transform the National Aerial Firefighting Centre into a permanent, 24/7 agency capable of responding to all natural disasters, not just bushfires. Facilitate strong partnerships between the Commonwealth, states, and territories by ensuring clear lines of responsibility and multilateral cooperation in disaster response.
- Strengthen Australia’s role in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to neighbouring Asia-Pacific countries impacted by extreme weather events.
- Provide a minimum employer superannuation contribution rate for firefighters and paramedics to equal that of Australian Defence Force workers.