On 13 February 2011 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced a new ministerial council system, comprising 12 new Standing Councils, five legislative fora and six time-limited Select Councils. The decision was made in response to recommendations contained in Dr Allan Hawke’s Review of Ministerial Councils.
Under the new ministerial council system, the Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management (SCPEM) was formed. SCPEM replaces two previously separate councils, Ministerial Council on Police and Emergency Management – Emergency Management (MCPEM-EM) and the Ministerial Council on Police and Emergency Management - Police (MCPEM-P).
The purpose of the Council is to promote a coordinated national response to law enforcement and emergency management issues. The Council looks to develop a shared framework for cooperation and a basis for strategic directions for the policing and emergency services of Australia and New Zealand. The Council also strives to encourage and share best practice across jurisdictions in police policy and operations, and in emergency management.
The Council has particular responsibilities for:
- law enforcement issues such as police powers, criminal offences and the sharing of intelligence;
- advancement of the professionalism of policing;
- national leadership on emergency management (all hazards) and disaster resilience, including national policies and priorities; and
- consideration of an annual Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment presented by the Chair of the Australian Crime Commission Board.
The Council’s priority issues are:
- Progressing the National Response to Organised Crime, including illicit drugs;
- Progressing a national response to cyber crime;
- Improving cross-jurisdictional law enforcement cooperation and planning, including law enforcement systems;
- Coordinating national initiatives to address alcohol, public safety and serious crime, including alcohol-fuelled violence, road safety and child protection;
- Increasing the resilience of individuals and communities to the impacts of disasters by undertaking and supporting initiatives that are designed to encourage all sectors of the Australian community to take responsibility for mitigating the effects of disasters, including implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience; and
- Consideration of recommendations of national interest from significant commissions of inquiry into natural disasters, including inquiries into the recent floods in Queensland and Victoria and bushfires in Western Australia.
SCPEM has a rotating chair and comprises ministers responsible for Police and Emergency Management from the Commonwealth, States and Territories, the Australian Local Government Association and New Zealand.
SCPEM is supported by two senior official committees - National Policing Senior Officers Group and the National Emergency Management Committee.