States and territories are responsible for crisis management at the jurisdictional level, including preparedness, response, relief and recovery. Australia’s states and territories are the first responders to incidents that occur within their jurisdictions.

The Australian Government does not seek to replicate the capabilities or responsibilities of states and territories. However, the Australian Government possesses strategic and operational capabilities that can provide critical support to states and territories during significant crises. The Australian Government harnesses national resources and ensures they are applied in appropriate, proportionate and equitable ways to secure the safety of all Australians.

The Australian Government:

• provides shared situational awareness and support to states and territories when coordinated assistance is requested
• undertakes and improves coordination of threat and security risk assessments and provides national security capabilities for significant crises
• supports a state or territory where, in the judgement of the Australian Government and following consultation with relevant jurisdictions where practicable, the nature of a crisis has or is expected to exceed the sovereign capacities of that state or territory
• jointly manages a crisis with states and/or territories if a crisis has the potential to affect, or has affected, multiple jurisdictions, the broader community or an Australian Government area of responsibility (such as the international dimension of a crisis)
• protects Australians and Australian interests overseas
• manages a crisis that is not the responsibility of states and territories
• works with states, territories, industry and the public to build national resilience against future hazards, particularly those with national consequences
• provides financial assistance to eligible Australian residents who are adversely affected by a crisis
• utilises its emergency management powers, including the ability to declare a National Emergency under the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020, to support and coordinate the response to nationally significant emergencies and enhance public awareness and understanding of these arrangements.