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Report name
Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1
Lead agency
EMV - Emergency Management Victoria
Status
In Progress
Due date
Ongoing
Finding
IGEM considers that this action is progressing satisfactorily
Recommendation theme
Recommendation 16: Cross-border interoperability
Recommendation details

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria works with the emergency management sector and relevant emergency management entities in New South Wales and South Australia to identify and address key cross border operational and resource management issues.

This engagement should aim to enhance interoperability and maximise the capability and capacity of agencies to work together during emergencies along Victoria's borders.

Action

Victoria will work with other states to ensure interoperability of systems and standardised tools as far as possible, to support cross border assistance.

Summary of progress

IGEM’s 2021 progress report noted that EMV is addressing this action by developing a Cross Border Emergency Management Framework containing three levels of new agreements:

  • a principle-based MoU between jurisdictions
  • Mutual Aid Agreements between jurisdictional agencies (at a statewide level)
  • Joint Operational Guidelines between local agencies who require direct cross border interoperability.

EMV plans to work with the committees and agencies on modernising their pre-existing agreements as they come up for renewal over the next 12 to 24 months to bring them into alignment with the new framework.