Gov announces new Bushfire & Natural Hazard research centre

The federal government has announced it will make a significant investment in the future of Australian resilience to bushfires and other natural hazards with the establishment of a new research centre.

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which will open on July 1 2013, is to build on the work of the existing Bushfire CRC.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and attorney-general Mark Dreyfus released a joint statement last week (February 13) revealing that the government would contribute up to $47 million over eight years to the centre.

This contribution will be contingent on states and territories also committing to furthering research activity with funding at a level equivalent to current state support for the Bushfire CRC.

As well as research into the hazards of bushfires, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC will establish a new program focussed on flood, earthquake, cyclone and tsunami events.

"Communities across Australia have been severely impacted by bushfires, floods and severe weather events again this summer," Ms Gillard and Mr Dreyfus wrote.

"This increased investment in research will improve approaches to mitigation, operational responses, and community resilience to natural hazards."

The Bushfire CRC welcomed the announcement of the new centre, with chief executive officer Gary Morgan praising the government's long term vision for hazard protection.

"The knowledge and expertise that has been built up over the last decade in national bushfire research can now continue and be expanded into related areas involving other natural hazards," said Mr Morgan in a statement issued February 14.

The bushfires this January were a chilling reminder of the threat posed by extremes of weather.

Business and farm owners need to consider the risk to their property and operations posed by such natural hazards, and a comprehensive business or farm insurance policy can help to mitigate those risks.