Home affairs warned Australian government of growing climate disaster risk after May election

Exclusive: department's brief said 'coordinated national action' was needed to ward off increasing disruptions

The government was warned by the Department of Home Affairs after the May election that Australia faced more frequent and severe heatwaves and bushfires, and that livelihoods would be affected without effective action on climate change.

The department's incoming government brief to the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, warned of "disasters" exacerbated by climate change.