ADF reservists prepare at Holsworthy Army Barracks.Credit:SMH
There are range of specific issues that the ADF will want to address in its thinking and internal reviews after this emergency is over. These would include possible changes to defence and national command arrangements that make it more agile in response to climate-related operations domestically,in the Pacific and south-east Asia.
Identifying ways to improve planning,capability development and force structure in response to natural disasters and extreme weather scenarios will also be important. It may lead to changes in defence procurement policies to identify dual-use technologies and capabilities suitable for traditional ADF functions and homeland disasters.
According toThe New York Times, a chalkboard sign placed recently outside the bookshop in the NSW village of Cobargo reads"Post-Apocalyptic Fiction has been moved to Current Affairs". Like the rest of us,the ADF will have to get used to the new normal these fires have thrust upon the country.
Paul Barnes is the head of risk and resilience at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.