The Minister

The Premier the Hon. Michael Rann is responsible for Security and Emergency Management in South Australia. Specific measures are in place to empower and assist him, including:

• legislation - the Emergency Management Act
• plans and procedures, -the State Emergency Management Plan
• organisational arrangements.
• an extra point

The Emergency Management Council

This is a Cabinet Committee chaired by the Premier, that comprises the Attorney General, Treasurer and Ministers for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Police, Emergency Services and Health.

It advises Cabinet on all matters in the Emergency Management Act and State Emergency Management Plan, including:

• preparedness and mitigation arrangements for all emergencies
• strategic coordination of emergency management arrangements.

State Emergency Management Committee

Its main functions are:

• leadership and oversight of emergency management planning
• developing and monitoring the State Emergency Management Plan
• advising the Minister on the Emergency Management Act and emergency management
• assessing the risks of emergencies or potential emergencies
• ensuring all agencies and organisations are sufficiently informed to perform their functions
• monitoring agency capacity to carry our EM functions
• coordinating the development and implementation of appropriate strategies and policies
• monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the State Emergency Management Plan and the response and recovery operations taken during major emergencies

This committee is a requirement of the Emergency Management Act. Members include:

• Chief Executive of Department Premier and Cabinet, who presides over meetings
• State Coordinator (the Commissioner of Police assumes this role)
• Chief Officers of Country Fire Service, Metropolitan Fire Service and State Emergency Service
• members appointed by the Governor, including one from SA Police, St John Ambulance Service, and the Local Government Association.

Security and Emergency Management Office

The Security and Emergency Management Office (SEMO) is part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Its chief responsibilities are for:

• Policy advice to the Premier and Cabinet on security and emergency management
• Coordination of relevant security and emergency management activities
• Liaison with other organisations - public and private -- associated with security and emergency management throughout Australia
• Policy support of the Security and Emergency Management Committee.

In brief, SEMO aims to ensure that arrangements are in place to avoid the intrusion of emergencies that disrupt normal community life. Where this is imposible, these arrangements should assist in recovery. A holistic view that encompasses the individual, social, economic and environmental dimensions forms a basis for its work. To this end, SEMO operates cooperatively with related organisations throughout Australia.