National Emergency Management Agency (Australia)

For National Emergency Management Agency agencies for other countries, see National Emergency Management Agency.
National Emergency Management Agency
Logo of the National Emergency Management Agency
Agency overview
Formed1 September 2022 (2022-09-01)
Preceding agencies
JurisdictionAustralia
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Brendan Moon, Coordinator-General
Parent departmentDepartment of Home Affairs
Websitenema.gov.au

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is an executive agency of the Australian federal government under the Department of Home Affairs.[1][2] The agency is responsible for coordinating and managing a national-level emergency response to help those affected by natural disasters, including droughts, bushfires and floods.[3] NEMA was formed on 1 September 2022 from the merger of the two major disaster agencies, the National Recovery and Resilience Agency and Emergency Management Australia.

The formation of the agency was first announced in July 2022 by the newly-appointed Cabinet headed by Anthony Albanese. The agency was originally intended to be named the National Emergency Management, Resilience and Recovery Agency.[4] The name was later simplified to its current name prior to the creation of the agency.[5][6]

The agency leads Australia’s disaster and emergency management efforts by providing informed strategic oversight and guidance, and by being constantly connected with local communities. It funds programs and initiatives, works with communities, industry and NGOs, gives national leadership, and provides round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination.[citation needed]

The Minister for Emergency Management, currently Jenny McAllister, holds ministerial responsibility for the agency. The agency is headed by its Coordinator-General, currently Brendan Moon.[7]

  1. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 23 June 2022" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 23 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 1 June 2022" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2022. p. 49,50.
  3. ^ "Albanese government restores abolished environment department but avoids major public service overhaul". ABC News. 2 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Australia's Key Disaster Agencies Now Even Closer". Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs. 1 July 2022.
  5. ^ "New agency to deliver support before, during and after disasters". Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs. 31 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Minister for Emergency Management - Transcript - Launch of new federal disaster agency - 31/08/2022". National Emergency Management Agency. 31 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Brendan Moon appointed first Coordinator-General for Emergency Management". National Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved 16 December 2022.