The best response to disasters: centralised strength or community mitigation?

Future Tense

Australia's disaster response procedures are under review. The new reality requires us to deal with multiple natural disasters simultaneously — to tackle polycrises. While some suggest a more centralised approach, others are calling for something very different — a greater focus on strengthening local community resilience and prioritising mitigation over clean-up. The climate clock is ticking, so which direction promises the greatest return?

Guests

Dr Paul Barnes – Senior Research Fellow and emergency and risk management expert, Griffith University

Rebecca McNaught – Research Fellow, University Centre for Rural Health, Lismore, NSW

Mark Duckworth – Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies, Deakin University

Professor Mehmet Ulubasoglu – Director of the Centre for Energy, the Environment and Natural Disasters, Deakin University

Listen to Future Tense — Designing buildings for disasters