Attorney-General Robert McClelland told an emergency management conference last week that all levels of government need to “pull their socks up” when it comes to disaster mitigation, education and preparedness.

He believes this year marks the beginning of a trend towards increasingly severe events amid warnings of an impending high-risk bushfire season for NSW.

“And unfortunately, the predicted effects of climate change point to more frequent and severe weather events,” Mr McClelland told the conference.

He says if nothing is done in reference to disaster mitigation and preparedness Australia runs the risk of becoming “a country in denial”.

The emergency management community has already accepted that every dollar spent on mitigation can save at least two in recovery costs, which was evident in the NSW town of Lismore following a one-in-10-year flood in 2005.

He says the town saved more than $15 million in recovery costs due to the completion of a levee bank prior to the event.

“There are many other examples both here and internationally,” Mr McClelland said. “Yet the combined expenditure on mitigation activities at all levels of government in Australia is only a small portion of the cost of rebuilding after this year’s disaster season.”

He says while the Federal Government is allocating $110 million over the next four years to states and territories for disaster mitigation, it’s nothing when looked at in comparison to the $6 billion spent in response to this year’s growing level of natural catastrophes.

“I believe it’s time to have a good look at our existing disaster relief and recovery arrangements,” Mr McClelland said. “We need to examine if there are better ways to support those in need.”

He says one positive out of this year’s floods has been a reassessment of where buildings and homes should be built and whether there is a need to relocate them to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.

“In other words, what’s the point of rebuilding an asset in a way or in an area where there’s a better than even chance it’ll be damaged again, if there are alternative options.

“We need to make sure our education and awareness efforts are co-ordinated, sustained and comprehensive – they need to target as many sections of the community as possible and they need to build on each other to create a consistent message,” he said.