This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework (the framework) in facilitating the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The framework outlines arrangements across seven phases (prevention, preparedness, response, relief, recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction) under which crises of national significance are to be managed. National plans and arrangements developed by Australian Government agencies must reflect the roles and responsibilities set out in the framework. The framework states its main focus is ‘near-term crisis preparedness, immediate crisis response and early crisis recovery arrangements’.