For the purpose of this Framework, a crisis is an event that requires an immediate Australian Government response outside business-as-usual arrangements to manage potential or realised acute consequences and mitigate further harm. A crisis may:

• be natural, human-induced or technology-caused
• cause wide-ranging harmful impacts across multiple sectors or jurisdictions within Australia, or significant impacts on any sector or jurisdiction, either immediately or over time
• adversely impact Australian lives, property and the environment, or our national security, interests or assets
• significantly impact Australian Government interests or assets, such as critical infrastructure or Australian Government services
• affect Australians or Australian interests overseas
• affect public trust in government institutions.

Crises by nature are difficult to predict and are associated with high levels of uncertainty. As each crisis will present unique challenges of varying severity and complexity, there is no standardised response. The Framework articulates the Australian Government’s scalable approach to managing these challenges.