With the creation of the Commonwealth Natural Disasters Organisation (NDO) in June 1974, the responsibility for civil defence and emergency service was devolved to the states and territories. Prior to this, civil defence was primarily a federal responsibility, focusing on wartime threats.
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The NDO's creation signified a transition towards a more coordinated national response to natural disasters, with a clear emphasis on supporting and enhancing state and territory capabilities. In the transition, the official birth date of the Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) was set for 1 January 1975 with Mr L. Wilson appointed to be the Executive Officer.
Then a catastrophic event would cement the role of NTES in disaster response and highlight the need for a robust, community-based service capable of managing large-scale emergencies. Cyclone Tracy tore through Darwin on Christmas Day 1974, claiming 66 lives and leaving nearly 90% of housing uninhabitable. The devastation of Cyclone Tracy had a profound effect on the development of NTES and a significant bearing on the broader counter disaster organisation throughout the Northern Territory and gave the new service a baptism of fire.
Major General Alan Stretton who was Director General of the Canberra based NDO landed in Darwin on the first aircraft into the city following the cyclone and worked to establish an Emergency Services Organisation Committee in collaboration with a team of emergency and frontline workers.
On his departure from Darwin on New Year's Day 1975, Major Stretton, advocated for the provision of strong emergency powers to enable active control and direction of the emergency operations necessary to rehabilitate Darwin from its devastated state.
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory passed the Cyclone Disaster Emergency Ordinance which, when assented on 9 January 1975, gave the Director of Northern Territory Emergency Services, Mr Ray McHenry, extraordinary powers to control the post-Tracy counter disaster operation. A permanent Divisional Officer for the southern region of the Northern Territory was also appointed.
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