Heatwave alert: Why shopping centre and cinema bosses have been tapped by the government to help combat Australia’s ‘silent killer’
Community pools, libraries, shopping centers and cinemas must be kept accessible in a bid to stop Australia's secret killer: heat waves.
Australia is set to be sweltering this summer and authorities are concerned about the impact of extreme heat over the next two months.
More than 150 representatives of local government, shopping center managers and cinema operators were informed on Friday by the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM).
Emergency Situations Minister Murray Watt, who convened the meeting, said the federal government is taking the threat of heat waves seriously.
“Heat waves are the secret killer of this country,” Senator Watt said after the meeting.
Shopping center managers and cinema operators have been informed by authorities as Australia heads into a scorching summer
“That's why we're working with local governments and the private sector to ensure we're better prepared than ever before.”
The NCM brings together all levels of Australian government, industry and the not-for-profit sector to leverage efforts across the country to respond to complex events.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the heat has killed almost 300 people and hospitalized more than 7,000 in the past decade.
Representatives were briefed on the seasonal outlook by the Bureau of Meteorology.
The Ministry of Health and Elderly Care has also raised awareness about heat wave mitigation planning.
European Union scientists confirmed earlier this month that 2023 would be the hottest year on record.
It comes as Australians have been warned to stay cool ahead of another weekend of heatwaves.
Severe heatwave conditions are being felt across coastal NSW and Queensland, with a heatwave warning in place for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Northern Tablelands and South Coast District and Gulf Country and Southeast Coast Districts.
Severe heatwave warnings have been issued for several parts of Australia, with Emergency Situations Minister Murray Watt warning that extreme heat is the country's 'silent killer'.
The warm weather system will then shrink northwards by the weekend and next week, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Low intensity to severe heatwave conditions will be felt across much of inland and northern WA, including parts of western and northern NT and northwestern South Africa.
Sydney has experienced its hottest start to summer on record, prompting warnings for households to think about what appliances they use while the air conditioner is on.