Role statement - Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

Promote resilience through:

• membership of national, state, regional and local emergency management bodies and teams

1.2

• effective engagement networks with commonwealth, government, industry and community stakeholders, including the communications and food and grocery critical infrastructure sectors to gain appreciation of asset criticality and emergency planning and preparedness plans

• emergency planning and preparedness, including the SEMP Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan, Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan, and national arrangements captured in the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN), Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN) and the National Strategic Plan for Aquatic Animal Health (AQUAPLAN), and national Ministerial agreements under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD), Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement.

• working with commonwealth, state government, industry, primary producers and community groups on the management of threats (including high risk biosecurity threats and natural disasters) to mitigate economic impacts

• monitoring and surveillance programs for agricultural and environmental pests and diseases that meet State and National trade needs

• implementation of, and compliance with traceability systems for livestock and agricultural produce

• working with the communications sector on mobile blackspots and public telecommunications resilience programs

• maintain a State Duty Officer function, portfolio liaison officers and other operational personnel for deployment to the SCC during a major emergency to provide specialist advice and support the state as required

Participating agency for the following emergency animal disease mitigation activities:

• regulated control of certain risk activities associated with animal feeding and farm biosecurity practices
• disease surveillance activities - epidemiological information (data and analysis) to meet trading partner needs
• international surveillance/intelligence
• farming industry supply chain best practice and accreditation
• specialist training of staff and industry
• awareness raising, education, information dissemination

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Participating agency for the following emergency plant pest mitigation activities:

• preparedness and contingency plans
• surveillance programs
• diagnostic testing
• state border control
• education and stakeholder engagement
• conditions on movement (e.g. insecticide requirements for red imported fire ant host materials)
• pest and disease alerts
• farm biosecurity/awareness
• public awareness campaigns
• plant health certification and auditing
• chemical control

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Participating agency for the following mine emergency mitigation activities:

• legislation/regulation and enforcement of Mineral Resources Sustainable Development Act 1990 and regulations (licensing and approvals process for operators of declared mines), Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004, EM Act 2013, EM (Critical Infrastructure Resilience) Regulations 2015, Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and Regulations 2014, Energy Safe Victoria Act 2005
• implement risk-based mine work plans and Risk Management Plans (formerly Risk Assessment and Management Plans), addressing specific mine stability, fire, explosion, flooding etc. controls
• audits and inspection
• planning consent and work plan approvals (initial and on-going)
• implementing licensee and work plan conditions for mine operators to manage identified risks
• technical review board (provides independent advice to DJPR and the Minister for Resources on mine stability)

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Control agency for biosecurity incursions, emergency animal disease outbreaks (including bees and aquaculture), plant pest or disease outbreaks (including plague locusts), invasive plant, animal and exotic marine pest incursions and rapid and significant increases in established pest populations (vertebrate pests and plagues)

3.1, 15.7, 16.1, 16.2

Table 9: Control Agencies for Response

Key support agency for:

• illness foodborne

• mining and petroleum emergencies by providing expert advice for mine and quarry incidents and rescues, and petroleum/geothermal wells

• rescue: mine/quarry and lift, crane, scaffolding or amusement structure

• critical infrastructure damage or disruption for the public communications sector

• wildlife affected by marine pollution

• the (vast) majority of resources for response to a disruption to essential services are within relevant industry sectors

Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional areas:

• agriculture
• animal welfare (livestock and companion animals)
• business and industry
• earth resources (mines)
• food and grocery supply continuity
• local government
• public telecommunications
• tourism

Table 10: Support agencies for response

Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for food and grocery supply continuity. DJPR supports food and grocery supply continuity by providing strategic and expert advice to government and emergency agencies regarding impacts on food and grocery supply/demand and prioritisation in an emergency, working with major food distribution operators.

4.5, 4.6, 10.2, 10.3, 15.2, 15.7

Table 12: Relief coordination

Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) for animal welfare, including Relief Lead Agency (RelLA), for animal welfare support relief activities (other than wildlife) as per the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan, including:

• Liaise with DELWP (wildlife), local government (to co-ordinate the housing of displaced and lost/stray companion animals and disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral)) during emergency events as required.
• For animals other than wildlife:
  • Identify and assess injured and affected animals.
  • Provide advice on options for treatment, humane destruction or emergency salvage slaughter.
  • Where necessary, assist with humane destruction of injured or affected animals.
• Work cooperatively with DELWP to inform and coordinate animal welfare organisations, volunteer groups or community groups wanting to contribute as required.
• Assess and report losses and damage to agricultural assets and animals and, as outlined in the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan and SEMP, liaise with other agencies on identified needs (including but not limited to medical assistance, food, personal water, counselling, livestock fodder, stock water).

4.5, 10.2, 11.1, 12.2, 13.2, 15.2, 15.7

Table 12: Relief coordination

Relief Support Agency (RelSA) for the Australian Red Cross to coordinate food and water distribution.

Table 12: Relief coordination

Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) responsible for the recovery functional area coordination of local economies, businesses, agriculture and public telecommunications

15.7, 17.1, 17.2

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

Table 17: Built environment

Recovery Lead agency (RecLA) responsible to:

• refer primary producers and animal owners to services. Gather information on affected primary producers and other animal owners’ properties to assess the impact, loss and damage. Relevant information will be shared with Municipal councils and appropriate agencies to aid in the coordination of recovery activities

4.5, 11.1, 11.2

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• work with Municipal councils to implement appropriate actions and initiatives that encourage and bring forward the resumption of local economic activity

17.1, 17.4, 17.5

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• assess and monitor broad economic impacts and consequences in partnership with other agencies and Municipal councils, share information across government to inform responses and work with agencies to prioritise planned activities to minimise economic consequences

4.5, 17.1, 17.2, 17.5

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• assist business and industry to access information, advice and support following an emergency.

17.2, 17.4

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• provide information and advice to small businesses to support decision making and, where appropriate, encourage a return to business

17.2, 17.4

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• work to develop and implement funded activities to support business recovery.

17.2, 17.4

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• provide opportunities for the enhancement of knowledge and skills within small business to support business recovery and resilience

17.5

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• deliver recovery programs and advice to primary producers, rural land managers and other animal businesses by providing technical advice and services on strategies to re-establish rural enterprises, rehabilitate productive land and economic recovery

17.2, 17.4, 17.5

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• deliver recovery programs and technical advice to primary producers, rural land managers and other animal businesses by ensuring effective communication channels between various agencies, organisations and communities, sharing local intelligence and data analysis, and providing advice on ongoing treatments

4.5, 17.2, 17.5, 17.4

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• lead government liaison to support the delivery of public telecommunications assets reinstatement, return to reliable supply and restoration of services by coordinating relevant information, working with telecommunication businesses as required

3.2, 19.7

Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment

• implement marketing/public relations and industry product development activities to assist affected tourism regions and businesses to recover, in partnership with Visit Victoria and Regional Tourism Boards

17.5

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

Lead agency responsible to assess, restore, clear and rehabilitate DJPR managed public buildings and assets (e.g. public amenities)

19.2, 19.3, 19.4

Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to:

• support EMV to implement available financial assistance under the DRFA to assist voluntary non-profit groups, communities and economies

3.2, 15.4

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• support EMV to deliver recovery programs and financial assistance under the DRFA arrangements for small businesses and primary producers by gathering impact and loss information and sharing it with EMV and DPC, and promoting the support to primary producers and stakeholders

3.2, 17.1

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• support BRV to coordinate approved state-led or supported clean-up of residential property

• support respective asset owner/s or the managing agency/s of sporting facilities, public amenities or station buildings in undertaking the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of public buildings and assets

Support DELWP and CFA to assist farmers repair and restore fences damaged by fire or suppression activities by collecting information from affected primary producers and refer private fencing damage to Municipal councils, and fences on public land to DELWP

3.2, 11.1, 17.5