Dr Robert Glasser from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute will lead an independent review of national natural disaster governance which, among other things, will consider establishing an authoritative disaster advisory body.

A working group consisting of representatives from the federal, state and territory governments, as well as the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), is being established to support Dr Glasser’s work.

The review was commissioned by emergency management ministers to help prepare governments for increasing natural disasters.

It will examine how governance arrangements can improve national natural disaster preparedness, response, recovery, resilience and long-term policy.

It will also look expanding the remit of the National Emergency Management Ministers (NEMMM) council, which currently reports to National Cabinet as a way of driving national coordination on emergency and disaster management and resilience.

Dr Glasser’s review, which comes in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, is due to wrap up by November 30.

It will complement the Independent Review into Commonwealth Disaster Funding, which is being led by AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin.

Dr Glasser is head of the ASPI Climate and Security Policy Centre and Honorary Professor at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions.
 
He previously held the role of a Special UN Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction and was also the Secretary General of CARE International.