State emergency arrangements
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is responsible for delivering emergency management activities at a state level. These include:
- undertaking an important leadership role for biosecurity emergencies
- acting as a support agency for other types of emergencies
- developing the Adverse Events Framework
- advising on animal safety in emergencies.
Leading biosecurity emergencies
Under the State Emergency Management Plan, PIRSA acts as both the hazard leader and control agency for biosecurity emergencies in South Australia.
Biosecurity involves managing the risks of pests and diseases entering, emerging, establishing, or spreading. Biosecurity measures aim to:
- prevent the introduction or spread of viruses and bacteria to animals and plants
- minimise the risk of infectious disease transmission.
In agriculture, biosecurity protects food crops and livestock from pests, invasive species, and harmful organisms that are not conducive to human welfare. These threats impact our economy, lifestyle and tourism, public health, and conservation of the natural environment.
Our robust biosecurity system relies on a partnership approach between government, industry, and the community. Whether you are a landowner, agricultural producer, food manufacturer, transporter, tourist, or local resident, we all have a role to play.
Supporting other emergencies
As a support agency, PIRSA delivers relief and recovery services in emergencies that affect primary production stakeholders and regional communities.
We have developed relationships with a range of organisations to deliver this support for both producers and animals.
Adverse Events Framework
The Adverse Events Recovery Framework ( ) guides PIRSA's approach to:
- preparing for events that severely affect primary production, viability, and profitability
- implementing recovery activities.
This framework establishes a community-led process to determine the recovery needs for primary production and associated communities. PIRSA will work in collaboration with primary producers, industries, and other agencies to return businesses to normal operations as quickly as possible, following a given event.
Adverse events may include fire, flood, severe weather, disease, drought, or sudden and unforeseen trade restrictions. The framework gives context for defining the severity of these events, from a meteorological (rainfall) perspective, a production perspective, and the socio-economic impacts.
The principles of the framework are consistent with arrangements such as the:
- Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Drought Program Reform
- National Strategy for Disaster Resilience
- Disaster and Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)
- State Emergency Management Plan for South Australia.
Preparing for adverse events is part of PIRSA’s ongoing core business to assist primary industries and regions to grow and innovate. Our approach to partnering with primary industries and producers ensures we have the networks and intelligence needed to support effective recovery programs.