RSL chief calls for national preparedness coordinator role

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 17:54 · Archive

RSL Australia president Peter Tinley will call for a dedicated government role to coordinate national preparedness against serious disruption.

RSL Australia president Peter Tinley will address the National Press Club on Monday to call for a new national preparedness framework to address what he describes as Australia's 'missing line of defence'.

Mr Tinley will argue that no single person in government currently holds responsibility for ensuring the nation is ready to deal with serious disruption that reaches communications, financial systems and public confidence simultaneously. He will say this coordination duty does not exist, and that this represents a critical gap in national security.

The RSL's proposed framework contains three measures. The first is legislation making national preparation a continuing legal duty. The second is an independent commission to determine which resilience measures justify their cost. The third is a government adviser whose role would be to assess whether the country is adequately prepared.

Mr Tinley will argue that national preparedness is a veterans' issue, as veterans and their families are among those who suffer when the nation is unprepared. He will acknowledge work done across sectors in producing analysis on the issue, but will call for this analysis to be translated into action through a standing national function that drives preparation, exercises and accountability.

RSL chief calls for national preparedness coordinator role — Image: The West Australian

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How it is being reported

'Missing line of defence': RSL head sounds alarmRSL Australia president Peter Tinley will address the National Press Club about the organisation's proposed national preparedness framework.The West Australian · 11 Oct, 17:32
'Missing line of defence': RSL head sounds alarmRSL Australia president Peter Tinley will address the National Press Club about the organisation's proposed national preparedness framework.Perth Now · 11 Oct, 17:32

In this story: RSL Australia · Peter Tinley · Australia · National Press Club

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