The Australian Government is urging Australians to stay alert and aware of bushfire risks this autumn, with large parts of the country expected to face unusually warm weather and below average rainfall.

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Autumn 2024, released today by AFAC (the National Council for fire and emergency services), predicts average or above-average fire risk throughout all of Australia for the months ahead.

Parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia are predicted to experience a higher than average risk of bushfires during autumn.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt said the outlook was a reminder to not be complacent and to continue to prepare for situations that may arise.

“While the autumn forecast is thankfully less severe than the Spring and Summer outlooks, we need to remember that an average fire risk is still a risk, and fires can happen anywhere,” Minister Watt said.

“The Australian Government has worked closely with all State and Territory governments and authorities on preparedness during the Higher Risk Weather Season, and we won’t be taking our foot off the pedal now.

“Authorities will use the information in AFAC’s outlook to identify higher risk areas, and help plan with local emergency services and the broader community.

“I also want to recognise and thank all personnel who have been working tirelessly to respond to natural hazards. We acknowledge that these consecutive, concurrent and compounding events are challenging for personnel and whole communities.”

The Australian Government continues to focus on preparedness, prevention and mitigation to combat natural disaster risk.

In the past 6 months, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Government has:

• Continued delivery of Round 1 and opened applications for Round 2 of the Disaster Ready Fund which delivers up to $200 million of funding annually for risk reduction and resilience
• Delivered 16 Higher-Risk Weather Season preparedness briefings to key sectors with over 2,100 attendees
• Facilitated 19 Australian Government Crisis and Recovery Committees.
• Continued the establishment of the National Emergency Management Stockpile - which has seen Humanihuts deployed to disasters in Far North Queensland
• Continued support for Disaster Relief Australia to provide recovery and clean up support after disasters. DRA’s veteran-led operating model provides a trained, on the ground force during recovery and relief efforts
• Improved insight sharing through the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee
• Delivered the final Commonwealth-led recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

This release was originally published on the Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs' website.