QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (14:50): Thank you for the question, Senator O'Neill. You are right to point to the work of emergency services, and we thank them for their contribution and everything that they do for our communities. It's difficult work, but it's work that we depend on, and we are so grateful.
Our government too is focused on making sure that Australia is better prepared for the high-risk weather season. We can't eliminate disaster risk, but we can make sure that communities, governments and emergency services are as prepared as they can be and ready to work together when disaster strikes. That is why the Albanese Labor government is working closely with the states and territories who hold primary responsibility for disaster response to strengthen our national preparedness and our response capability.
This week, the National Emergency Management Agency is bringing together crisis management experts from governments, from industry and from the not-for-profit sector in the National Preparedness Summit. I will acknowledge Minister Watt, who was the first minister to convene this, and the work the ongoing work from Minister McBain in the other place. This is an incredibly important summit.
It's an opportunity to share lessons, test preparations and make sure that we are ready for the season ahead. This preparation doesn't just happen as a one-off once a year. Back in June, NEMA held Exercise Nexus, testing our national ability to respond to and recover from catastrophic all-hazards crises.
NEMA continues to work with governments, with emergency services, with industry and with community to strengthen arrangements for the 2026-27 season. It matters because of the conditions that we're facing. More than 70 per cent of our local government areas have been affected by natural disasters since 2022.
The latest seasonal bushfire outlook indicates heightened fire risk across parts of several states and territories, while the bureau has also indicated that El Nino is under way and could persist until at least the summer. The message is clear; we need to be ready. The PRESIDENT: Senator O'Neill, first supplementary.