The recommendations of an audit of the capabilities of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Local Land Services to manage emergencies have been received and endorsed by the Minister for Primary Industries.
Former Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair endorsed all 18 of the recommendations from the audit which was conducted by the Natural Resources Commission.
The Commission said DPI and Local Land Services had prepared an action plan to implement its recommendations and were building on a reform program already initiated.
In its audit, the Commission found that overall the DPI and Local Land Services had achieved effective outcomes and demonstrated several strengths.
“The audit highlighted that both DPI and Local Land Services have a core group of dedicated, capable staff they can deploy to deliver emergency response services, as well as structures to efficiently engage extra-jurisdictional resources and expertise when needed,” the Commission said.
“Furthermore, DPI and Local Land Services have commenced, and are implementing, a reform program that should address some key risks and capability gaps in emergency response management.”
It found however that the emergency response capability of DPI and Local Land Services could be strengthened by clarifying organisational roles and responsibilities including operational decision-making procedures; developing and implementing a risk-based workforce plan; introducing business continuity planning and funding strategies; as well as addressing key operational risks.
The Commission conducted the audit over four stages starting with stage one in which it assessed the extent to which Local Land Services had systems and procedures to ensure it could provide accurate, consistent and timely advice.
It said stage two tested the implementation of those procedures in delivering the advice, while stage three focused on the likelihood that landholders would engage with Local Land Services’ Sustainable Land Management group and examined customer satisfaction.
The final stage of the audit examined whether advice was recorded and stored in a consistent manner.
The Commission’s 36-page audit report can be accessed at this PS News link.
