Listing of the National and State/Territory Reviews and Inquiries into the extensive natural disasters of the 2019 / 2020 summer season
The National and State/Territory Reviews and Inquiries into the extensive natural disasters of the 2019 / 2020 summer season are in the process of being publicly released. We have prepared a summary list with URL links to these reports for the members of our MUDRI Network, in 3 sections:
1.Government-led Reviews / Inquiries into the 2019 / 2020 summer season.
The IGEM Vic Phase 1 Report was released on Friday 17 September, 2020. The Royal Commission is due to report by late October. Its Interim Observations and Draft propositions (as listed below) provide an insight into its thinking.
2.Selected analyses of the 2019 / 2020 Summer Season
3.Listings of previous Reviews / Inquiries into Australian Bushfires.
The Disaster Inquiries Database, prepared by the NHBCRC, is a valuable resource providing an extensive collation and analysis of over 300 Reviews / Inquiries of bushfires in the Australian setting. Cole et al provides a structured review and analysis of recommendations from these previous Reviews / Inquiries of bushfires in the Australian setting
We hope that you will find this listing of value in support of your professional and research interests.
Frank, Caroline, Dudley, Suzanne and Samantha.
21 September 2020
Government – led Reviews / Inquiries into the 2019 / 2020 Summer Season
State / Territory | Agency | Report title and link | Recommendations | Comment |
National | Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements | Interim Observations, no recommendations, released 31 August 2020 Draft propositions by Counsel Assisting, released 3 September 2020 | 5 Background Papers 4 Issues Papers Submissions available on-line | Scheduled for final report 28 October 2020 |
National | Senate, Finance and Public Administration References Committee | Submissions and public hearings available on-line | Submissions and public hearings closed. Scheduled to report by the last sitting day in 2021. | |
National | CSIRO | CSIRO was tasked in January 2020 by the Prime Minister to deliver an independent study recommending ways in which Australia can increase its climate and disaster resilience, supported by an Expert Advisory Panel chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel. CSIRO Report, Climate and Disaster Resilience, and accompanying Technical Report | 25 recommendations on building Australia's climate and disaster resilience | Released in August 2020. |
Qld | IGEM Qld | 72p Review of progress on recommendations from 2018 bushfires in Queensland | Released 20 February 2020 | |
NSW | Independent, State Government appointed | Owens D, O’Kane M, Final Report NSW Bushfire Inquiry
NSW government has accepted all 76 recommendations | 460p 76 recommendations | Released 13 July 2020 |
ACT | Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety Legislative Assembly for the ACT | Review of ACT emergency services responses to the 2019-20 bushfire season | Submissions closed Hearings completed | Scheduled to report later in 2020 |
ACT | Independent external consultants, Synergy Group | ACT Emergency Services Agency Operational Review of the Bushfire Season 2019/20 | 121 p 31 recommendations | Released 20 August 2020 |
ACT | Internal | 38p 4 recommendations | Released 20 August 2020 | |
VIC | IGEM | Independent Inquiry 2019-2020 Victorian Fire Season home page Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season Phase 1 Community and sector preparedness for and response to the 2019–20 fire season. Part 2 Report, relief and recovery, due mid 2021 | 376p 17 recommendations | Phase 1 report released 18 September 2020 |
SA | Govt of SA | Independent Review into South Australia's 2019-20 Bushfire Season | 168p 15 Recommendations | June 2020 |
Selected analyses of the 2019 / 2020 Summer Season
- | Peer reviewed journal Paper | Alexander I et al, Impact of Australia's catastrophic 2019/20 bushfire season on communities and environment. Retrospective analysis and current trends, Journal of Safety Science and Resilience Volume 1, Issue 1, September 2020, Pages 44-56 | - | July 2020 |
- | Peer reviewed journal Paper | Arriagada NB et al, Unprecedented smoke‐related health burden associated with the 2019–20 bushfires in eastern Australia Med J Aust || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50545 | - | March 2020 |
NSW | Climate Council of Australia | Lesley Hughes, Will Steffen, Greg Mullins, Annika Dean, Ella Weisbrot and Martin Rice, Summer of Crisis, Climate Council of Australia Limited, 2020 | 34p | 2020 |
NSW | Grattan Institute | Stephen Duckett, Will Mackey, and Anika Stobart, The health effects of the 2019-20 bushfires Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements 2020 | 18p | 2020 |
Listings of previous Reviews / Inquiries into Australian Bushfires
Bush Fire Post Event Reviews and Inquiries, NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE LIBRARY, Accessed 31 August 2020
Disaster Inquiries Database, BNHCRC, 2019
Cole, L, Dovers, S, Eburn, M, Gough, M , Major post-event inquiries and reviews: review of recommendations , BNHCRC, 2017
Forrest Fire Management Victoria, Previous Reviews and Inquiries, 2010
Senate, Previous bushfire inquiries, 2010
NOTE:
- The Disaster Inquiries Database provides an extensive collation and analysis of over 300 Reviews / Inquiries of bushfires in the Australian setting
- Cole et al provides a structured review and analysis of recommendations from previous Reviews / Inquiries of bushfires in the Australian setting