A climate security priority: Australia’s need for balanced domestic disaster infrastructure

This publication covers how a need for more robust civilian disaster infrastructure is being acknowledged in Australian policy circles, and plans for beefing up the civilian infrastructure are, in fact, slowly taking shape. As disasters continue to increase and intensify owing to climate change, militaries are increasingly mobilised for domestic response – as has been the case in Australia since the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires. Australia’s experience is likely to be instructive for other states that rely on their militaries for disaster response. 

The publication provides the following takeaways:

• Engaging with veteran-led organisations such as Disaster Relief Australia and integrate them into Australia's overall disaster management structure.
• Reservists could take on a bigger role in the response to domestic disasters and developing a voluntary national and community service scheme with specialised expertise and training, as seen in Singapore. Such steps would reduce the pressure on permanent ADF personnel until civilian capacity has been built to adequate levels.
• Striking a balance between the reality of increasing involvement in domestic disaster response as a result of climate change and the military's traditional role as defenders of the nation, particularly in an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape, is likely to continue to challenge Australian policymakers.