Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC327-4350 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | By December 2023, the Rural Fire Service should: develop a fleet enhancement framework and strategy that is informed by an assessment of current fleet capability to respond to fire incidents, and research into the most appropriate technologies and appliances to address emerging and future fire risks across NSW. |
REC327-4345 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | By December 2023, the Rural Fire Service should: review and improve processes for timely recording of fleet asset movements, locations, and maintenance status. |
REC327-4346 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | By December 2023, the Rural Fire Service should: establish a fleet maintenance framework to ensure regular update of District Service Agreements with local councils. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC317-4129 | 37 - Funding | Australian, state and territory governments should create simpler Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements application processes. |
REC317-4064 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Australian, state and territory governments should work together to develop consistent data standards to measure disaster impact. |
REC317-4100 | 9 - Community education | Australian, state and territory governments should: |
REC317-4128 | 37 - Funding | Australian, state and territory governments should broaden Category D of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to encompass funding for recovery measures that are focused on resilience, including in circumstances which are not ‘exceptional’. |
REC317-4055 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Government should revise the COMDISPLAN thresholds to provide that a request for Australian Government assistance, including Defence assistance, is able to be made by a state or territory government when: |
REC317-4097 | 9 - Community education | State and territory governments should ensure that the implementation of the Australian Warning System is accompanied by a carefully developed national education campaign that considers the needs of all Australians. |
REC317-4125 | 37 - Funding | Australian, state and territory and local governments should develop greater consistency in the financial support provided to individuals, small businesses and primary producers under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. |
REC317-4095 | 9 - Community education | State and territory governments should deliver education to ensure that the public understands the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System ratings, the potential danger attached to each rating, and the action that should be taken in response to each rating. |
REC317-4115 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Australian Building Codes Board, working with other bodies as appropriate, should: |
REC317-4084 | 9 - Community education | State and territory governments should continue to deliver, evaluate and improve education and engagement programs aimed at promoting disaster resilience for individuals and communities. |
REC317-4114 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | State, territory and local governments should be required to consider present and future natural disaster risk when making land-use planning decisions for new developments. |
REC317-4072 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Government should consider whether employment protections under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) are sufficient to ensure that fire and emergency services volunteers will not be discriminated against, disadvantaged or dismissed for reasons associated with their volunteer service during natural disasters. |
REC317-4112 | 9 - Community education | State and territory governments should: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC316-4049 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergencies Act 2004 be amended to allow for the appointment of the EC to be made for a discretionary time period of up to 28 days with the requirement for a legislated review of the appointment to be removed. Alternatively, a period of review should fall within the Chief Ministers discretion for up to seven (7) days following appointment. |
REC316-4024 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Government consider amendments to the Emergencies Act to include provision for a Deputy ESA Commissioner. |
REC316-4048 | 37 - Funding | Government consider adopting a similar model to NSW for the management of emergency costs and reimbursements within ACT Government agencies. |
REC316-4021 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Plan be amended to better reflect the intent of the Emergencies Act in the establishment of a Management Executive, separate to SEMSOG, on the appointment of an EC. It should describe the role of SEMSOG and the Management Executive as distinct in the emergency management architecture. |
REC316-4047 | 37 - Funding | Government consider an alternative funding arrangement for extraordinary costs borne by Government agencies in combating emergencies such as bushfires. |
REC316-4052 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The ACT Emergencies Act 2004 be amended to clarify that the powers of the EC encompass the power to direct agencies and directorates to share personal information for the preservation of life and protection of Canberrans. |
REC316-4041 | 9 - Community education | The ESA Community Education and Engagement program be adapted to include an expanded role for RFS volunteers and include a wider set of stakeholders who are more vulnerable to the impact of bushfire. A plan would require wider involvement across stakeholder organisations such as Directorates who have existing relationships with vulnerable groups. |
REC316-4051 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergencies Act 2004 be amended so that the powers, including delegations, available to an EC be granted on their appointment and remain in place under the same section of the Act for the duration of their appointment rather than being drawn from different sections of the Act that are dependent on the existing alert state for the specified event. |
REC316-4035 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Review, refine and implement the joint ESA/EPSDD Arrangement for Fire Management in the ACT with the previous recommendation in mind. |
REC316-4050 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergencies Act 2004 be amended to allow for the provision for a Deputy Emergency Controller to be appointed, independent of the initial appointment of an EC. The powers and functions of this appointment to be contingent on the absence of the EC. |
REC316-4025 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Plan and ECC Ops Plan be amended to better articulate the delivery of emergency management vs the delivery of the emergency plan. The Plan should facilitate principles for emergency management and clear role delineations whilst allowing flexibility in how the mechanisms are structured. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC315-3852 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That, in order to improve fireground communications between NSW agencies and interstate personnel: a) Government ensure all NSW fire authority personnel and vehicles can access and utilise the Public Safety Network (PSN). This should include access to NSW RFS Private Mobile Radio networks where PSN coverage is not yet available. |
REC315-3805 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That, to strengthen cross-agency accountability and deliver improved bush fire risk management outcomes: |
REC315-3844 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That, in order to enhance fire fighting strategies in severe conditions, the NSW RFS implements the following in respect to backburning: |
REC315-3864 | 9 - Community education | That, in order to ensure people can access clear information on cross-border fires, the NSW RFS: |
REC315-3804 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW RFS Commissioner consult with the Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner and other emergency services to develop a protocol in the event that simultaneous emergency events necessitate the re-allocation of resources while a Section 44 declaration is in place. |
REC315-3828 | 9 - Community education | That, in order to improve bush fire planning and protection of road infrastructure and to ensure communities, freight movers and fire fighting agencies have appropriate access and egress in a bush fire event, Government, working with local government as needed: |
REC315-3855 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That, in order to ensure all agencies have a clear understanding of cross-border communication channels during bush fires, all MoUs between state or territory agencies include an agreed protocol about how agencies will communicate across borders and that these are reflected in Incident Action Plans. |
REC315-3799 | 9 - Community education | That at the start of each fire season, based on advice from the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee, Government provide a public statement with an evaluation of the likely fire season risk and the effectiveness of the planning and preparation for the upcoming season. This should be based on sophisticated monitoring of the key risk factors and signals for an extreme fire season. It should form the basis for clear public communication about these risks on a regional basis and the actions that Government proposes in preparation. |
REC315-3824 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That Government commit to shifting to a strategic approach to planning for bush fire, and develop a new NSW Bush Fire Policy similar to the NSW Flood Prone Land Policy in order to accommodate changing climate conditions and the increasing likelihood of catastrophic bush fire conditions; to build greater resilience into both existing and future communities; and to decrease costs associated with recovery and rebuilding. |
REC315-3854 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That, in order to ensure emergency response agencies can communicate across state and territory borders, the Commonwealth Government allocate 10 + 10 MHz as a dedicated spectrum for Public Safety Mobile Broadband (PSMB) at no cost to states and territories. |
REC315-3820 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That Government amend the Rural Fires Act 1997 so that all public land management agencies be required to forward complaints received about bush fire hazards to the Commissioner of the NSW RFS. As an interim measure, heads of agencies should commence this practice immediately. |
REC315-3853 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That, in order to ensure the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) can maintain communications during emergencies, the Government provide the SEOC with independent Public Safety Network functionality. |
REC315-3809 | 37 - Funding | That Government work with other Australian governments to provide long-term funding certainty to AFAC, including the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC). |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC302-2395 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Remove those policies, guidelines, memoranda of understanding and committees that are made redundant as a result of adopting recommendation #2 while updating any remaining policies that are considered to still be relevant |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC292-2361 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Minister for Police consider whether the provisions of the Terrorism (Police Powers) Act2002 should be amended to ensure that police officers have sufficient legal protection to respond to terrorist incidents in a manner most likely to minimise the risk to members of the public. |
REC292-2367 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency liaise with the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee to determine whether policies requiring the consideration of more proactive intervention should be developed for responding to terrorist sieges. |
REC292-2343 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force remedy the lack of detailed guidance on how State Protection Group officers should interact and communicate with the Police Forward Commander, and that such guidance be included in policy documents and reinforced with training. |
REC292-2374 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the ADF Review give consideration to amending the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee protocols to ensure that they provide sufficient guidance as to the respective roles of the ADF and state police tactical groups. Such guidance should accord with the legislative framework in Part IIIAAA of the Defence Act 1903 (Cth). |
REC292-2359 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force develop policies that require the recording of negotiation strategies and tactics, demands made by a hostage taker, and any progress towards resolution (or lack thereof ) in a form readily accessible by commanders and negotiators. |
REC292-2365 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency and the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee review the Australia New Zealand Guidelines for Deployment of Police to High Risk Situations and the Police Tactical Group Operations Manual to ensure that they adequately describe all aspects of the DA planning and approval pro-cess and present commanders with appropriate guidance on relevant considerations. |
REC292-2341 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force review the Management Operational Guidelines to resolve any inconsistency between them and relevant counter terrorism protocols. |
REC292-2373 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the ADF Review confer with state and territory governments about the criteria governing applications for the ADF to be called out pursuant to the Defence Act 1903(Cth) with a view to determining: whether further guidance is required on the criteria to be used by states and territories in determining whether to apply for Commonwealth assistance; and if so, what criteria ought to be stipulated. |
REC292-2353 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force develop a comprehensive policy that describes the role and function of a psychological adviser engaged to assist in responses to high-risk situations and that all those involved be made familiar with that policy. |
REC292-2364 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency and the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee review the Australia–New Zealand Guidelines for Deployment of Police to High-Risk Situations and the Police Tactical Group Operations Manual to ensure that those documents give commanders guidance on how to assess imminent or immediate risk. |
REC292-2340 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Director of Public Prosecutions develop a policy for overseeing lawyers' exercise of the discretion not to oppose bail that takes into account the seriousness of the offences involved; the experience of the prosecutor appearing; and the views of the police officer in charge of the investigation, insofar as those views are based on facts relevant to bail determinations. |
REC292-2372 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force review its policies, procedures and training to ensure the rapid identification of persons killed or injured in high-risk situations. Those policies should provide appropriate guidance on how and when death messages ought to be conveyed following such incidents. |
REC292-2350 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Secretariat of the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee prepare guidelines regarding the interpretation and scope of the restrictions contained Clause 92 of the National Counter Terrorism Plan 2012. The Secretariat should also update relevant Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee documents and the New South Wales Police Force should update State Protection Group documents to refer to the latest versions of the National Counter-Terrorism Plan |
REC292-2382 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Minister for Police undertake a review of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Act 2016 with a view to enabling the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to facilitate urgent debriefs and confidential internal reviews of critical incidents focused on improving current practice. |
REC292-2363 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that New South Wales Police Force policies be amended to require documentation of triggers for Emer-gency Actions. Consideration should be given to stipulating that “contingency triggers”—specific events that will require initiation of an EA or some other agreed response—should also be recorded. |
REC292-2338 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Commissioner of Police issue guidelines to assist officers to determine when they should exercise their powers of arrest and take an accused into custody rather than proceeding by way of a court attendance notice. |
REC292-2371 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force develop a comprehensive policy and set of procedures in relation to family liaison capability for high-risk situations. Those policies and procedures should ensure that: The capability is scalable depending on the nature of the incident, An appropriately senior officer is responsible for overseeing the liaison process, He or she should have direct access to officers in the Police Forward Command Post for the purpose of conveying and receiving information in a timely manner, A dedicated family liaison officer (or officers) is assigned to the family of each victim and given responsibility for managing the needs of that family Officers are given guidance on communi-cating with families, including the appropriate frequency and content of briefings both during and after an incident, Officers are advised of the proper process for gathering and disseminating intelligence from family members. |
REC292-2347 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force consider developing a pro forma debriefing sheet containing standard questions relevant to all or most high risk situations, which can be supplemented by the negotiation coordinator and the tactical commander to maximise the likelihood of all available relevant information being obtained during hostage debriefings. Such measures would also aid contemporaneous documentation of information derived from debriefs and assist in relaying all relevant information to command. |
REC292-2376 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the Commonwealth Attorney-General, in consultation with states and territories, review existing arrangements for information sharing between federal, state and territory agencies during terrorist events to determine whether those arrangements (and the guidance provided to officers in respect of them) adequately facilitate the efficient identification and transfer of pertinent information between agencies. |
REC292-2362 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force review its policies to ensure that the usual arrangements for placing a sniper coordinator in the Police Forward Command Post are departed from only for sound operational reasons that are recorded. |
REC292-2368 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force develop a policy regarding the use of distraction devices and the training of officers in their use. |
REC292-2344 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the New South Wales Police Force review the division of tasks among the various officers responsible for responding to major high-risk situations to enable Police Forward Commanders to focus exclusively on their primary goals and that officers engaged in matters not directly related to the resolution of the incident be required to report to an officer other than the Police Forward Commander |
REC292-2375 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | I recommend that the ADF Review, in consultation with the police forces of the states and territories, examine the guidance available to ADF officers and state and territory police regarding: the role of ADF liaison officers; the availability of ADF assistance in the absence of a call-out; and the procedures to apply in relation to requests for, and the provision of, equipment or advice by the ADF. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC280-1395 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Rural Fire Service reassess the protection of pastoral assets during bush fires to ensure that priority for protection is not simply afforded to the homestead, and that land holders are, within reason, able to request which of their own assets are protected. |
REC280-1379 | 9 - Community education | That the NSW Rural Fire Service develop and implement a comprehensive community education campaign aimed at increasing community understanding of and support for hazard reduction burns. |
REC280-1391 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Rural Fire Service review its procedures, systems and infrastructure for notifying community members of bush fires, both when a fire has broken out and as it proceeds, to ensure the provision of timely and adequate information. |
REC280-1403 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services urgently review its policies for the provision of disaster welfare services to ensure that in the event of a bush fire emergency and the declaration of a fire under section 44 of the Rural Fires Act 1997, adequate funding and services, especially recovery centres and mental health services, are provided for an adequate length of time, with gradual transition to normal service delivery when those services are no longer required. |
REC280-1390 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Government consider enabling the default position during catastrophic and extreme fire danger periods to be the same as for section 44 fires, so that fire control centres have the same systems and resources ready to deploy should a fire break out. |
REC280-1399 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service remove from its boundary fencing policy and standard contract the condition that requires adjoining land owners to maintain a fence that has been damaged by trees falling from national park land. |
REC280-1389 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Government, as a matter of urgency, amend the Rural Fires Act 1997 to codify the current interim arrangements for command and notification requirements for class 1 and class 2 fires, which clarify that the NSW Rural Fire Service or Fire and Rescue NSW: |
REC280-1398 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: |
REC280-1385 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service consider the feasibility, on a case by case basis, of closing public roads through national parks on days with catastrophic fire danger rating, to mitigate the risk of bush fire ignition in national parks. |
REC280-1397 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service adopt an interim fencing agreement in the immediate aftermath of a fire. This will enable emergency and interim works to commence, but features such as length, fencing components and site of the fence line are not binding. A final fencing agreement would be negotiated no earlier than six months following a major national park fire. |
REC280-1383 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the NSW Government improve the protection of media and telecommunications towers around New South Wales by: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC278-1225 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends that the Australian and Tasmanian Governments: • develop options to increase co-operation to ensure that the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is protected and conserved in line with Australia's obligations under the World Heritage Convention; and • work together to ensure strong provisions to protect the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from bushfire risks are included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC261-1492 | 37 - Funding | That the NSW Government commit to and fund a long term program of prescribed burning based on the recommendation of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission of an annual rolling target of a minimum of five per cent of public land per year, and that the NSW Government commit to extending the funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service five year hazard reduction program past 2016. |
REC261-1516 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service remove from its boundary fencing policy and standard contract the condition that requires adjoining land owners to maintain a fence that has been damaged by trees falling from national park land. |
REC261-1514 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service adopt an interim fencing agreement in the immediate aftermath of a fire. This will enable emergency and interim works to commence, but features such as length, fencing components and site of the fence line are not binding. A final fencing agreement would be negotiated no earlier than six months following a major national park fire. |
REC261-1512 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Rural Fire Service reassess the protection of pastoral assets during bush fires to ensure that priority for protection is not simply afforded to the homestead, and that land holders are, within reason, able to request which of their own assets are protected. |
REC261-1506 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Government, as a matter of urgency, amend the Rural Fires Act 1997 to codify the current interim arrangements for command and notification requirements for class 1 and class 2 fires, which clarify that the NSW Rural Fire Service or Fire and Rescue NSW: |
REC261-1496 | 9 - Community education | That the NSW Rural Fire Service develop and implement a comprehensive community education campaign aimed at increasing community understanding of and support for hazard reduction burns. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC260-1060 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That the Rural Fire Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service review the procedures for requesting aerial support in ‘severe’ or worse fire conditions to ensure that delays in providing it are reduced to the minimum time possible. |
REC260-1056 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Rural Fire Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service consider adopting the approach to fire classification suggested by Mr Conway that “classification and resourcing of the fire ground response and incident management capability should reflect the potential of the fire rather than observed fire behaviour. |
REC260-1069 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That NPWS conduct a review of its hazard reduction policies to ensure all assets within and on the boundary of the Park are clearly identified and an adequate policy or management plan exists for the protection of all assets, including a procedure pursuant to which progress in meeting hazard reduction targets is regularly and comprehensively assessed. |
REC260-1065 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the National Parks and Wildlife Service review its procedures for monitoring Class 1 fires occurring in ‘severe’ or worse fire conditions that cannot be reconnoitred at ground level adequately due to terrain or dangerous conditions, and consider including aerial surveillance (if reasonably practicable) as a standard procedure in such circumstances. |
REC260-1064 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the National Parks and Wildlife Service review its protocols for control of Class 1 fires under its control to ensure that incident controllers managing fires in ‘severe’ or worse fire conditions receive as much incident management planning support as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC259-1045 | 9 - Community education | That recovery policy incorporates the need for regular public meetings which give access to officials and representatives of agencies, as required |
REC259-1044 | 9 - Community education | That where, in the future a similar process for land clearing is adopted, the rationale and process is better explained and widely promulgated. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC257-1551 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The use of Internal and External ranges at MTA for patrolling activities be prohibited. |
REC257-1550 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Defence engage with both the Bureau of Meteorology and the Rural Fire Service to determine a more suitable index system. In the interim, Range Standing Orders be amended so that live-firing on the ranges on Marrangaroo Training Area not be permitted where the Forest Fire Danger Index for either the Central Ranges District or Greater Sydney Region is 12, it being the threshold for HIGH Fire Danger Rating or above. put another way, and in a practical sense, Range Standing Orders should, as an interim measure, require the Officer in Charge Practice and the Range Control Officer to consider the Forest Fire Danger Index for both Central Ranges District AND Greater Sydney Region on the day of any given serial. If either index is as 12 or above, live-firing should not be permitted. Any indication in Range Standing Orders or elsewhere that live-firing is permitted on Marrangaroo Training Area when the Fire Danger rating is HIGH should be rescinded. |
REC257-1549 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Marrangaroo Training Area Range Standing Orders should be reviewed to impose a requirement that the Officer in Charge of any live-firing practice ascertain and consider current weather parameters, temperature, humidity, wind strength and direction, registered at Mt Boyce immediately prior to any demolition serial. The setting of those parameters and their limits should be decided in consulation with the Bureau of Meteorology and Rural Fire Service and inserted into Range Standing Orders. |
REC257-1554 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | All documents be reviewed to remove ambiguity and perceived inconsistencies. Marrangaroo Training Area Range Standing Orders be subject to further examination, with particular consideration of the bushfire mitigation strategies referred to in the Bushfire Management Plan 2011-2014 before amendments to Chapter 10 are made. the basis upon which Range Standing Orders might fix a cut-off point for live-firing exercises should depend on continued bushfire strategies. Range Standing orders and Marrangaroo Training Area Bushfire Management Plan be reviewed annually. if hazard reduction has not occurred or the fire trails degraded, Range Standing Orders should take into account of heightened risk. |
REC257-1543 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Range Standing Orders be amended to include a direction that no Defence vehicle is to leave the administration area of Marrangaroo Training Area during a bushfire, except to leave Marrangaroo Training Area itself through the main gate, unless it is a properly equipped bushfire fighitng vehicle havig at least four wheel drive capabiliy and self-protection equipment. |
REC257-1553 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | On matters relating directly to safety or risk, or when live-firing may occur, where there is ambiguity or apparent inconsistency, the most conservative or restrctive order should be followed until formal clarification has been provided. |
REC257-1538 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Commanding Officer Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School amend relevant instructions, both generally and specifically, so as to ensure that explosive ordnance used in training serials is logged in real time, in accordance with extant doctrine. |
REC257-1552 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Authority be given to the regional Environmental Officer to close a range or impose live-firing restriction in addition to any set out in Range Standing Orders if circumstances so warrant. |
REC257-1537 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Commanding Officer Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School review and enforce Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that appropriate explosive ordnance accounting and handling practices, in accordance with Defence doctrine, are adhered to during all training activities. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC256-1557 | 37 - Funding | Where asset management plans at the local, state or territory level pre-identify and cost betterment of assets (improving asset resilience to natural disasters), the Australian Government should share 50 per cent of the betterment component of reconstruction costs following damage from a (eligible) natural disaster. |
REC256-1569 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The provisions in the Queensland Sustainable Planning Act 2009 for injurious affection should be repealed. |
REC256-1556 | 37 - Funding | The Australian Government should fund natural disaster recovery by: |
REC256-1562 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Government should: |
REC256-1560 | 37 - Funding | The Australian Government should: |
REC256-1577 | 37 - Funding | The Australian Government should develop a formula for allocating mitigation funding to state and territory governments on the basis of where such funding is likely to achieve the greatest net benefits, taking into account the future risks of natural disasters. This should be completed within five years and in consultation with state and territory governments. |
REC256-1559 | 37 - Funding | The Australian Government should gradually increase the amount of annual mitigation funding it provides to state and territory governments to $200 million. Initially, this funding should be distributed to state and territory governments in accordance with the allocation under the National Partnership Agreement on Natural Disaster Resilience. |
REC256-1574 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Government should establish a framework for the development of benchmark prices for the reconstruction of essential public assets. This should set out the broad parameters that state and territory governments should follow, without prescribing particular prices to be used. |
REC256-1558 | 37 - Funding | Funding to state and territory governments for community recovery should be provided as untied grants, with a transition period pending the development of a framework to assess community recovery costs. During the transition period, the Australian Government should continue to provide funding for community recovery through a reimbursement model. |
REC256-1570 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | All governments should put in place best-practice institutional and governance arrangements for the provision of public infrastructure, including road infrastructure. These should include: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC255-1578 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The ANAO recommends that the Department of Defence review the minimum information necessary to be reported for each emergency DACC task to discharge accountability obligations, identify costs, undertake cost recovery where appropriate, maintain records for future use and learn from emergency DACC activities |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC237-0817 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That section 3(c) of the Rural Fires Act 1997, which sets out the objects of the Act, be extended to include protecting infrastructure, environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and social assets from damage. |
REC237-0833 | 37 - Funding | That the NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW Treasury explore ways to ensure that unspent hazard reduction funds be carried over to the next financial year in a timely manner and to ensure that hazard reduction funding has a seamless transition from one financial year to the next. |
REC237-0822 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That section 74 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 be amended to require public authorities to report to the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service within one month of the end of the financial year on activities undertaken to reduce bush fire hazards on managed land during the preceding financial year. |
REC237-0827 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Panel notes and endorses the NSW bush fire management system based on a multi-agency, tenure blind approach using locally focused Bush Fire Management Committees, Bush Fire Management Plans and the Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code as best practice. |
REC237-0832 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Rural Fire Service investigate use of appropriate modelling, such as PHOENIX RapidFire and the Bayesian Network analysis, to quantify the level of bush fire risk to critical values and assets. |
REC237-0821 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the definition of “bush fire hazard reduction work” in the Dictionary of the Rural Fires Act 1997 be amended to include the establishment or maintenance of fire trails. |
REC237-0826 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the NSW Rural Fire Service hold discussions with the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities about hazard reduction and roadside vegetation, including potential changes to the NSW Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code. |
REC237-0831 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That Bush Fire Management Committees be required to take into account fuel age and fire frequency thresholds when developing Bush Fire Risk Management Plans |
REC237-0820 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Rural Fires Act 1997 be amended to allow the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service to carry out hazard reduction on land without the consent of the owner after reasonable attempts to contact the landowner have failed, without serving a notice under section 66 of the Rural Fires Act. |
REC237-0825 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the NSW Rural Fire Service hold discussions with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and Local Government NSW on ways to improve compliance with development consents under section 76A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. |
REC237-0830 | 9 - Community education | That Bush Fire Risk Management Plans be tabled at Local Emergency Management Committees for comment. |
REC237-0819 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That section 56 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 be amended to give the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service the power to direct a Bush Fire Management Committee to amend its Bush Fire Risk Management Plan if it is inadequate, in the opinion of the Commissioner. |
REC237-0824 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That section 100I of the Rural Fires Act 1997 be amended to allow hazard reduction certificates to be issued for annual low impact works for a period of three years, where appropriate. |
REC237-0829 | 9 - Community education | That Bush Fire Risk Management Plans be posted on the NSW Rural Fire Service website. |
REC237-0818 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That section 9(4)(b) of the Rural Fires Act 1997, which sets out the functions of the NSW Rural Fire Service, be amended to include protecting infrastructure, environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and social assets from damage. |
REC237-0834 | 37 - Funding | That the NSW Rural Fire Service apply for funding from the NSW Treasury for the development of a multi-agency business case for a BRIMS replacement that includes internal management, risk communication, community engagement capability and publishing activities on websites. |
REC237-0823 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That section 74 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 be amended to require public authorities to report monthly to the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service on activities undertaken to reduce bush fire hazards on managed land during the preceding month and the reasons why any planned activities did not take place. |
REC237-0828 | 9 - Community education | That the NSW Rural Fire Service develop a strategy to better inform the community and NSW Rural Fire Service members about the NSW bush fire management system and its components. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC231-2829 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) recommends that the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport, in preparation for the forthcoming reviews of the National Partnership Agreements, identify the most effective means of obtaining the project level information on the respective reconstruction programs required by the Agreements to be reported on and, if appropriate, seek amendments to the Agreements. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC230-2834 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends that the Attorney-General's Department facilitate a public consultation process on a regulatory framework for overflow arrangements between public safety agencies and commercial carriers. |
REC230-2835 | 37 - Funding | The committee recommends that the Australian Government direct an appropriate portion of the proceeds derived from the auction of spectrum to fund the allocation of 20 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band for the purposes of a national public safety mobile broadband network. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC229-2843 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends that Commonwealth, state and territory governments ensure that all facilities caring for vulnerable groups, in particular hospitals, schools, childcare and aged care facilities, have emergency management plans, relevant to their geographic settings, in place and regularly revised. |
REC229-2842 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The committee recommends that building codes incorporate mitigation measures that take into account foreseeable risks from extreme weather events. |
REC229-2841 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The committee recommends that credible and reliable flood mapping activities and the development of other information that would best inform landowners or prospective landowners of potential risks from extreme weather events are prioritised and used to inform land use planning laws. |
REC229-2839 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends that disincentives to insurance, such as taxes and levies applied by the states and territories, should be removed as part of a national reform process. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC228-1607 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Justice and Community Safety Directorate, in managing future amendments to the Emergencies Act 2004, should propose amendments which require the Emergency Services Agency to maintain information on privately-owned assets of public interest that are vulnerable to bushfire without the need to include this information in the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan. |
REC228-1616 | 37 - Funding | The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate should enhance internal monitoring of its implementation of bushfire management activities and spending under the Bushfire Operations Plan by routinely reconciling figures in this plan with those in the Directorate’s corporate financial system. |
REC228-1606 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should comply with the Emergencies Act 2004 requirements for the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan by including in this Plan an explicit statement of all resources needed to meet the objectives of the Plan. |
REC228-1613 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should continue to work with National Land managers and develop a National Land bushfire management framework to address bushfire risks on National Land. |
REC228-1612 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should develop a strategy for monitoring the development and implementation of all Government land managers’ operational plans. |
REC228-1621 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should improve its management of the Community Fire Unit Program by: |
REC228-1611 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should specify preparation and approval requirements for bushfire operational plans, particularly those for lands in the Bushfire Abatement Zone. |
REC228-1619 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, in consultation with the Emergency Services Agency, should improve its management of Land Management Agreements, with respect to rural leaseholders’ fire management responsibilities, by: |
REC228-1608 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should review the operations of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan Implementation Working Group to determine if it is the most appropriate mechanism for ‘monitoring the scope and effectiveness’ of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan. If it is retained, ways to improve its effectiveness should be identified and implemented. |
REC228-1617 | 37 - Funding | The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate should annually (and on a cumulative basis) track and report on funds allocated for, and spent on, its Bushfire Operations Plan to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC207-2893 | 37 - Funding | Explore options to obtain revenue from advertising on the Bureau’s website |
REC207-2880 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Ensure the Bureau puts in place necessary planning and governance arrangements to develop its bid for capital funding to maintain its critical supercomputing capacity |
REC207-2892 | 37 - Funding | Apply a consistent cost-recovery model to all services delivered to state/territory fire agencies. |
REC207-2879 | 37 - Funding | Firm up approval processes and funding for any departures from provision of the basic product set |
REC207-2890 | 37 - Funding | Review and rebalance relative investment in long term climate modelling and medium-term seasonal outlook. |
REC207-2877 | 37 - Funding | Explore opportunities to re-phase investments in large scale projects and programs such as the Strategic Radar Enhancement Program, the NexGen Forecast and Warning System Products and the Improving Water Information Program. |
REC207-2889 | 37 - Funding | Review level of investment in research activities to free up budget and reduce pressure on computing capacity |
REC207-2875 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Agree clear allocation of responsibilities to state and local government for flood management, with defined boundaries on the Bureau’s role and: |
REC207-2884 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Focus leadership practices to re-orient culture away from customisation and experimentation and towards reliable, efficient and consistent documented processes |
REC207-2874 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Formalise and standardise service levels provided to emergency services. |
REC207-2883 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Start a project to introduce organisational process thinking with a view to standardising processes and product specifications. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC206-1883 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government amend the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) so that from 1 July 2012 any derogation from Standard Cover is required to be communicated to policyholders as a departure from ideal standards: |
REC206-1892 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government allocate additional and continuing funding in the 2012–2013 budget to the Insurance Law Service to establish a consumer advisory position at the Financial Services Ombudsman. The position should be co-funded by the Insurance Law Service and the insurance industry. |
REC206-1882 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government amend the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) to make it obligatory that insurers offer to consumers the option of a general insurance policy that conforms to Standard Cover, as prescribed in the Insurance Contracts Regulations 1985 (Cth), from 1 July 2012, so that all insurers carry a product that provides full replacement in the event of total loss and cover for damages resulting from flood. |
REC206-1891 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government and relevant State and territory governments jointly allocate additional and continuing funding in the 2012–13 budget to the Insurance Law Service for the mobilisation of a temporary physical presence in areas of need following natural disasters. The service should be available to all persons in an affected disaster area and not subject to means-testing. |
REC206-1890 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission amend Regulatory Guideline 165 to: |
REC206-1889 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government introduce legislation by 1 March 2013 to make adherence to the General Insurance Code of Practice a compulsory requirement for all general insurers. |
REC206-1887 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission amend Regulatory Guideline 139 by 1 July 2012 to require the Financial Ombudsman Service to report regularly to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and also to make public: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC205-1895 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Reforms to address barriers to effective climate change adaptation should be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are likely to deliver net benefits to the community. This should include consideration of any risks to their implementation. |
REC205-1901 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Council of Australian Governments’ Building Ministers’ Forum should provide formal direction to the Australian Building Codes Board to: |
REC205-1900 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | As a priority, state and territory governments should ensure that land-use planning systems are sufficiently flexible to enable a risk management approach to incorporating climate change risks into planning decisions at the state, territory, regional and local government levels. Consideration should be given to: |
REC205-1897 | 9 - Community education | The Australian Government initiative to improve the coordination and dissemination of flood-risk information should proceed in the most cost-effective way, be regularly updated and be expanded over time to encompass other natural hazards. Guidelines to improve the quality and consistency of risk information should also be regularly updated and take climate change into account where feasible. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC186-0398 | 9 - Community education | The committee recommends emergency service organisations in collaboration with television and radio broadcasters, the print media and other relevant organisations, use regular and ongoing public education well in advance of an emergency situation as an opportunity to teach the public about their responsibilities during an emergency and how they can appropriately prepare themselves for such an event. |
REC186-0396 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government together with national, state and territory emergency service organisations and radio and television broadcasters, develop a secure database of up-to-date contact details for key personnel to be used during an emergency. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC185-1931 | 37 - Funding | The committee recommends that the Commonwealth Grants Commission ensures that as part of the current redesign of its data request, state and territory governments are required to include their past insurance and reinsurance receipts for natural disaster insurance premiums. These data must be taken into account by the Commission in determining the states' GST share. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC176-0144 | 37 - Funding | Further Commonwealth funding for bushfire suppression be made conditional on state fire agencies agreeing to the Commonwealth evaluating and auditing their fuel reduction programs. |
REC176-0142 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Commonwealth consult with local, state and territory government planning authorities on the development and dissemination of a house loss risk index for households in Australia's highest risk bushfire areas. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC174-2987 | 9 - Community education | To improve customer awareness of the availability of disaster recovery assistance, the ANAO recommends that Centrelink: |
REC174-2986 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The ANAO recommends that Centrelink assess the reliability of emergency recovery payment data and reports generated from its system(s), and update the approach, standards and procedures for the collection, storage and use of the data. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC162-3016 | 37 - Funding | ESWG recommends investigation of options to fund NGERAC’s on-going activities including through AEMO’s funding model. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC161-3039 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that AMSA should have a role in assuring continuing marine standards that are not inconsistent with Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act (OPGGS) Act provisions and that AMSA needs defined powers to assist NOPSA in minimising risk in the offshore petroleum industry. Potential mechanisms for achieving this outcome include: providing AMSA with defined powers and obligations under the OPGGS Act, thereby ensuring that the Authority becomes an effective inspector/regulator of vessels while they are deemed to be facilities; or revising the current Commonwealth maritime legislation disapplication provisions of the OPGGS Act with the aim of achieving the same goal. If it can be readily achieved and is an efficient regulatory option, we believe the first option is preferable. |
REC161-3024 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Commonwealth Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Management of Safety on Offshore Facilities) Regulations 1996 Regulations be amended to ensure that the safety case for a floating facility specifically identifies when command structure changes occur (which may be well before departing the site and associated zone). We also recommend that the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 be amended so that a vessel becomes a facility when any part of it comes within 500 metres of the site and continues to be a facility until no part of the |
REC161-3031 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority develop a robust risk assessment matrix for use in assessing and responding to the changing risk associated with each facility and the operator. Further, we recommend that National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority increase auditing frequency and duration to audit each manned facility on average twice per year (covering each staff swing), but more often if the risk matrix indicates this is necessary; and that audits should average several days actually on major facilities. |
REC161-3038 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that the Commonwealth Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Management of Safety on Offshore Facilities) Regulations (MOSO) be amended to ensure that the safety case for a floating facility specifically identifies when command structure changes occur (which may be well before departing the site and associated zone). We also recommend that the OPGGS Act be amended so that a vessel becomes a facility when any part of it comes within 500 metres of the site and continues to be a facility until no part of the vessel remains within 500 metres of the site. |
REC161-3023 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Commonwealth undertake legislative change that will ensure that when any floating facility reverts to a ‘navigable form’, the relevant provisions of the Navigation Act and the OHSMI Act will apply regardless of any voyage criteria. This will help to ensure that all Australian seafarers are covered. |
REC161-3029 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | In relation to safety case development and compliance overall, that National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority revise its approach to interacting with operators prior to the safety case assessment process and subsequently and direct more resources into its advisory functions. We further recommend that National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority develop and implement a formal plan for supporting and guiding each operator prior to safety case acceptance, as well as for ongoing compliance with that safety case, recognising the unique experience, capabilities and assessed risk of that operator. Each plan needs to include advice, education and liaison meetings with the operators. The plan needs to be continuously reviewed and reassessed based on latest information, including the interaction with the operator. Implementation should be reviewed at a senior level within National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority. |
REC161-3037 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that the Commonwealth undertake legislative change that will ensure that when any floating facility reverts to a ‘navigable form’, the relevant provisions of the Navigation Act and the OHSMI Act will apply regardless of any voyage criteria. This will help to ensure that all Australian seafarers are covered. |
REC161-3027 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That powers should be conferred on National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority to enable it to effectively regulate safety and integrity for all facilities and pipelines in the water and the WA islands which export gas by pipeline. National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority’s authority should extend to the nearest valve on the mainland above the shore crossing. |
REC161-3036 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Commonwealth and States/Northern Territory legislate to establish a properly resourced and empowered independent national safety investigation capacity to investigate serious oil and gas industry (including pipeline) incidents including near miss events that could have led to a major accident event. We further recommend that the regulatory investigatory powers under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 be reviewed in the context of powers for the proposed independent national safety investigator, noting that the regulator must retain those investigatory powers necessary in order to fulfil its legislative functions. |
REC161-3026 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Commonwealth consider a plain English rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912 with the aim of producing a modern, performance-based Act. |
REC161-3033 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Commonwealth Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Management of Safety on Offshore Facilities) Regulations 1996 regulations be amended to explicitly enable assessment of safety culture, leadership, and consideration of operator past history, motivation and current capacity in approvals of safety cases. National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority should be able to audit against these criteria and challenge operators on these issues. |
REC161-3040 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend the Commonwealth consider a plain English rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912 with the aim of producing a modern, performance-based Act. |
REC161-3025 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That Australian Maritime Safety Authority should have a role in assuring continuing marine standards that are not inconsistent with Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 provisions and that Australian Maritime Safety Authority needs defined powers to assist National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) in minimising risk in the offshore petroleum industry. Potential mechanisms for achieving this outcome include: providing Australian Maritime Safety Authority with defined powers and obligations under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, thereby ensuring that the Authority becomes an effective inspector/regulator of vessels while they are deemed to be facilities; or revising the current Commonwealth maritime legislation disapplication provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 with the aim of achieving the same goal. If it can be readily achieved and is an efficient regulatory option, we believe the first option is preferable. |
REC161-3032 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and its subsidiary regulations be amended to enable National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority to have a broader range of graduated compliance tools including the ability to impose a civil fine on an operator per day of non compliance with an improvement or prohibition notice. Legislation should also be considered that would enable National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority to make public, with appropriate safeguards, specific information concerning its enforcement actions including the name of the operator, the breach, and the enforcement action required including potential penalties. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC159-3057 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | ACTAS should conduct formal reviews of its clinical procedures manuals in consultation with its Clinical Advisory Committee, and develop guidance to oversight these reviews. |
REC159-3056 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | ACTAS should specify and document the role of each of its various clinical governance processes, how they relate to each other, and how these will be managed, measured and monitored within an overarching clinical framework. |
REC159-3053 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | ACTAS should develop policies and guidelines to assist ambulance officers’ decisions on whether or not to transport a patient to hospital. This guidance might include appropriate responses when a mentally impaired patient declines transport or treatment, and when to call on management or clinical guidance. |
REC159-3051 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | ACTAS should: |
REC159-3061 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | ACTAS should develop and implement policies and guidance to staff on how complaints should be assessed and actioned, including timeliness targets. |
REC159-3060 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | ACTAS should develop a policy that provides direction on what type of feedback it will seek, from whom it will seek the feedback, and how this feedback will be used to improve the patient care experience. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC147-3190 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The ANAO recommends that, to facilitate EMA’s response to requests for assistance in overseas emergency management situations, a statement of the broad principles, responsibilities and performance expectations to apply when EMA is involved in overseas operations be developed and agreed between EMA, DFAT, AusAID and other relevant stakeholders. |
REC148-3189 | 37 - Funding | The ANAO recommends that, to ensure that grant conditions are satisfied, EMA enhance procedures to monitor the progress of projects and follow up those behind schedule or not fulfilling funding agreement requirements. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC146-3192 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends, in accordance with the findings of the Hawke Taskforce, that CASA's Regulatory Reform Program be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible to provide certainty to industry and to ensure CASA and industry are ready to address future safety challenges. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC145-3214 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider the benefits of adopting a nationally consistent sea level rise planning benchmark and, if so, whether this be done on a statutory basis or otherwise. The outcomes of this consideration should then be included as part of the action plan for the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone. |
REC145-3234 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government nominate 2012 as the Year of the Coast, to further build community awareness about the issues facing the coastal zone. The Australian Government should work with coastal stakeholders, volunteer groups and the general community in determining key activities as part of this initiative. |
REC145-3213 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee notes the Council of Australian Governments initiative (through the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council) to develop state-specific climate change planning policies by mid 2011, to inform local governments and regional planning responses to climate change. The Committee recommends that the Australian Government ensure that the outcomes of this initiative are included as part of the action plan under the proposed new Intergovernmental Agreement on the Coastal Zone. |
REC145-3233 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government undertake an awareness campaign to alert coastal communities to the key challenges facing the coastal zone and the value of community engagement in addressing these challenges. The campaign should aim to build understanding and awareness of coastal management issues to encourage the continued membership and support of volunteer networks in the coastal zone. |
REC145-3208 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government, through the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management, recognise the extensive Surf Life Saving Australia network and take appropriate steps to integrate this network into emergency services preparedness, planning, and response systems and activities. |
REC145-3232 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government give consideration to establishing a separate funding program for infrastructure enhancement in coastal areas vulnerable to climate change. Such funding should be provided according to a formula requiring contributions, either financial or in-kind, from state governments and relevant local government authorities. |
REC145-3240 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that proposals for a National Oceans and Coast Act and a statutory Coastal Council be the subject of ongoing consideration once the Intergovernmental Coastal Zone Agreement is determined. |
REC145-3207 | 37 - Funding | To further enhance Australia’s disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery arrangements in the event of possible major coastal disasters, the Committee recommends that the Australian Government establish a grants program, the Coastal Natural Disaster Mitigation Program, to fund natural disaster mitigation projects in the Australian coastal zone. |
REC145-3222 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government: |
REC145-3238 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government: |
REC145-3200 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government: |
REC145-3215 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that the Building Code of Australia, including cyclone building codes, be revised with the objective of increasing resilience to climate change. |
REC145-3236 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that the Australian Government provide funding support for the ongoing activities of the Australian Coastal Alliance in providing a national information and communication interface between research organisations and local government authorities and other coastal stakeholders. |
REC145-3197 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the coastal zone component of the National Climate Change Science Framework and proposed National Climate Change Science strategy be clearly identified by the proposed high level coordination group and involve key coastal stakeholders. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC144-3396 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that information in relation to proposed fuel load activity and controlled burning should be disseminated to the community and in an accessible format. |
REC144-3381 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Council consultative requirements under the Emergencies Act 2004 be reviewed, with a view to removing the requirement to consult with the Bushfire Council on operational matters, such as staff appointments and matters prescribed by regulation. |
REC144-3394 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the ACT Government develops a joint strategic bushfire management plan with the NSW Government and the NSW Rural Fire Service in relation to those areas which have the potential to impact on both jurisdictions. |
REC144-3380 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the ACT Government develop and publish an operational policy document which spells out the command and control structures and procedures should an emergency event arise. |
REC144-3393 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that the responsibility for land management issues lie within a single portfolio, specifically the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. |
REC144-3399 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the Emergency Services Agency post all its publications, which are not internal working documents or otherwise confidential, on its website. |
REC144-3392 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the ACT Government finalise Version 2 of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan as required under the Emergencies Act. |
REC144-3398 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the Emergency Services Agency update its website to accommodate, at a minimum, a publications menu item and a search function. |
REC144-3391 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the ACT Government explain its reasons to the Legislative Assembly for not proceeding with the release of Version 2 of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan in July 2005. |
REC144-3397 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the ACT Government investigate the Victorian Community Fireguard model with a view to implementing a similar scheme in the ACT to enhance community preparedness for and ability to respond to bushfire emergencies. |
REC144-3383 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that, if the Bushfire Council is to have an advisory role generally in emergency management, it should be renamed to reflect a general emergency role rather than a role specifically in relation to bushfires. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC126-1978 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That it be a matter of policy and practice that the relevant land management agency is responsible for the initial response to any fire or fires on the land under its care or management – within the overall operational response of the ACT Rural Fire Service |
REC126-1943 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the ACT’s Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1990 be amended by repealing s. 6(d) of the Act |
REC126-1992 | 9 - Community education | That implementation of the Bushfire Wise Program continue and include a letterbox drop of the updated Bushfire Information Booklet |
REC126-1961 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That the Emergency Services Agency review the communications systems used by the four services (the ACT Ambulance Service, the ACT Rural Fire Service, the ACT State Emergency Service and the ACT Fire Brigade), by the Australian Federal Police, by NSW emergency services and by aircraft and ensure the systems are compatible |
REC126-2001 | 9 - Community education | That community education programs provide information about fire behaviour, urban design principles that contribute to a specific level of risk, and the benefits of fitting basic ember protection materials in areas at risk from bushfire |
REC126-1966 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Emergency Services Agency investigate and implement arrangements that will provide the capacity to use fire retardant in remote areas |
REC126-1991 | 9 - Community education | That the Emergency Services Agency establish annual targets for the introduction of community education programs and provide resources to conduct regular independent assessments of the level of community preparedness engendered as a result of the programs |
REC126-1958 | 37 - Funding | That the ACT Government allocate sufficient funds to enable full-time and volunteer firefighters to participate in relevant courses and programs |
REC126-2000 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the ACT Government consider taking measures to implement the provisions of Australian Standard 3959, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas, for the ACT urban area |
REC126-1965 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That helicopters be used wherever possible to facilitate the rapid deployment of remote area firefighting crews |
REC126-1990 | 9 - Community education | That the Emergency Services Agency take measures to ensure that the community regularly receives up-to-date information on the risks of bushfires |
REC126-1946 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the ACT Government consider amending the Coroners Act 1997 to include what were ss. 56(1)(d) and 56(2)(c) of the 1956 Coroners Act |
REC126-1999 | 9 - Community education | That the Canberra Urban Development Working Group referred to in Mr Peter Dunn's letter consider the report prepared by Mr Leonard and note particularly that the community awareness information currently available to householders in connection with measures they can take to better protect their homes from bushfires does not refer to the potential of wooden fences, conifers and outbuildings to contribute greatly to fire spread, particularly in suburban areas. Also noteworthy is Mr Leonard's evidence that the linear sitting of homes on house blocks in Canberra seems to be an important factor contributing to house-to-house fire spread and that this should be avoided in future developments on the urban fringe |
REC126-1964 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That remote area firefighting resources be deployed to a fire in a remote area as a matter of priority and in preference to the deployment of large tankers |
REC126-2005 | 9 - Community education | That community education programs include unambiguous information that at times of unusually high water demand there might be a drop in or loss of water pressure and it might be appropriate for residents who intend to remain and fight a fire to have auxilary water pumps or booster pumps |
REC126-1989 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That formal protocols be developed and agreed with NSW authorities, so that a concerted effort that combines the resources of both NSW and the ACT can be brought to bear in the future - without impediment caused by lines on a map that make the ACT an island within the state of NSW |
REC126-1945 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That s. 47 of the ACT Coroners Act 1997 be expanded to explicitly state that an inquest and the inquiry are not adversarial in nature and are solely inquisitorial, with a view to establishing the truth |
REC126-1996 | 9 - Community education | That the Emergency Services Agency develop a clear policy for disseminating information to the public and the media in times of emergency and that, as required, that policy incorporate advance door-knocking of homes in the area affected, as well as regular broadcasts by local radio and television stations and regular updates on the relevant website - be that Canberra Connect or a different ACT government website - as well as the Emergency Services Agency's website |
REC126-1964 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That all firefighting agencies adopt a policy and practice that all fires in remote areas of the ACT be responded to as quickly as possible, with vigorous and sustained efforts made to suppress the fires and not leave them unattended – especially at night – unless there are compelling reasons relating to firefighter safety or lack of resources |
REC126-2003 | 9 - Community education | That the community be made aware of the risk presented by heavy loads of garden fuels and certain types of vegetation around their houses and take active, regular measures to reduce that risk |
REC126-1987 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That measures be taken to ensure that ACT and NSW Rural Fire Service radio communications systems are integrated, so that ACT and NSW firefighting units can communicate with each other |
REC126-1944 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That s. 59 of the ACT Coroners ACT 1997 be amended by deleting the words ‘by instrument’ in s. 59(1) and by deleting the words ‘by his or her instrument of appointment’ in s. 59(2)(b) |
REC126-1993 | 9 - Community education | That consulations and negotiations occur between the Emergncy Services Agency and the NSW Rural Fire Service to ensure that fire risk and safety messages to the community are coordinated. Maximum use should be made of television and radio announcements throughout the ACT and southern NSW, consistent with NSW timetables for targeted programs in conjunction with the United Firefighters Union ACT Branch and volunteer fire brigade representative. The Emergency Services Agency should consider using ACT Fire Brigade staff and ACT Rural Fire Service volunteers to talk to groups in the community on request, thus furthering face-to-face community education in high-risk suburban areas of the ACT |
REC126-1962 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That version 2 of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan be completed and introduced without delay |
REC126-2002 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That consideration be given when building to the positioning of outbuildings around residential structures such that their potential impact on the main structure is reduced |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC119-3645 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | It is recommended that the Board: |
REC119-3647 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | It is recommended that the Board: |
REC119-3646 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | It is recommended that the Board develop response time standards for metropolitan and rural rescue services to guide committees in determining the number, type and location of rescue units (page 25). |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC117-3640 | 37 - Funding | The ANAO recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department better monitor and account for the expenditure of individual exercise costs under the National Capability Development Exercise Programme, through: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC116-2110 | 9 - Community education | The Working Group recommends that EMA convene a national forum to explore community information and warning needs in catastrophic disasters, to review existing information and warning systems, and to identify possible technologies and techniques that might be used to enhance community needs in disasters. |
REC116-2100 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Working Group recommends that agreed national protocols be developed to manage the integration of overseas workers and international aid into an affected jurisdiction. |
REC116-2099 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Working Group recommends that a review of the operation of the Commonwealth Mutual Recognition Act 1992 be conducted and that agreed national protocols be developed to manage the integration of |
REC116-2128 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Working Group recommends that jurisdictions review their emergency management arrangements (plans, legislation, etc) to ensure that they are able to mitigate, respond to and recover from disasters, and maximise the duration of self reliance that can be achieved. |
REC116-2124 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The whole of government disaster plan should also be written in such a way as to manage continuity of national government, ensure delivery of key services for which the Australian Government has responsibility and establish (or document existing) command and control mechanisms. |
REC116-2111 | 9 - Community education | The Working Group recommends that the national forum mentioned in recommendation 13 consider the ongoing need for dissemination of information on a national basis both during and following a catastrophic disaster and also identify strategies to ensure the ability of this to be facilitated. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC098-2169 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that, for the purpose of communications for the police, ambulance and fire brigades, any rental costs associated with the use of radio sites under the care, control or management of the Commonwealth, state, territory or local government be waived, other than for the ongoing cost associated with the use of power at the site. |
REC098-2135 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth seeks to ensure that the Council of Australian Governments implements to a minimum national standard adequate access to all public lands including wilderness areas of national parks. |
REC098-2178 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that Standards Australia review the clarity of AS3959–1999: Construction of buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas to ensure that all relevant stakeholders can interpret and apply the Standard in the way it is intended. |
REC098-2154 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth seek to ensure that the Council of Australian Governments seek the adoption by all states and territories of multi-agency protocols and agreements for fire |
REC098-2166 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia work through the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to ensure that: |
REC098-2133 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth seeks to ensure that the Council of Australian Governments resolve when asset protection zones will be located on private land and when on public land and gain assurances that adequate maintenance of zones will be enforced. |
REC098-2176 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Committee recommends that Standards Australia incorporate building maintenance into AS3959–1999: Construction of buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas, perhaps renaming it as AS3959–1999: Construction and maintenance of buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas. |
REC098-2153 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Committee recommends that the state and territory bushfire agencies ensure that, on a district basis, communications are addressed within the district operations plans and that the plans are capable of easy adoption to incident action plans. |
REC098-2165 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia and the Australian Communications Authority work with state and territory bush fire authorities to ensure that that district communication plans |
REC098-2174 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the Insurance Council of Australia coordinates a public education campaign aimed at illustrating the importance of asset protection and how this can be achieved (that is, insurance products). |
REC098-2152 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth, through the Council of Australian Governments and the Australasian Fire Authorities Council, initiate an overhaul of the incident management systems used |
REC098-2164 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Committee recommends that: |
REC098-2171 | 37 - Funding | The Committee strongly recommends that the New South Wales, Victorian and Tasmanian Governments abolish the Fire Levy tax they impose on home and business insurance premiums (wherever applicable), making it payable through household rates instead. Any cost savings gained by the insurance industry through relief from collecting Fire Levies should be passed on to policyholders through reduced premiums. At the same time the Committee urges the Insurance Council of Australia to run ongoing education campaigns to increase public awareness on bushfire preparedness, including the need for insurance. |
REC098-2149 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth work with the states and territories through the proposed Council of Australian Governments to review the response to bushfires to ensure that principles of fire prevention and rapid and effective initial attack are adopted and implemented by all rural fire authorities and public land managers |
REC098-2159 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that in changing the incident management systems as proposed in recommendation 23 above all bushfire agencies review concerns about difficulties in communicating operational information from the fire front to air operations. |
REC098-2170 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia request the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to: |
REC098-2141 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth through the National Heritage Trust, offer assistance to the states and the Australian Capital Territory to develop specific prescribed burning guides, at least |
REC098-2187 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth require state and territory governments to have in place comprehensive bush fire management plans as a pre-requisite for accessing funding from the National Heritage Trust and like programs. |
REC098-2158 | 37 - Funding | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth should commit funding for aerial fire fighting beyond the 2003–04 season on the proviso that the Australasian Fire Authorities Council and the state and territory governments make a commitment to: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC037-4161 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That separate counter—disaster systems be avoided by retaining counter—bushfire arrangements as part of the State’s total counter— disaster system. [Reference paragraph: 228] |
REC037-4168 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The provisions of the State Disasters Act, 1983, be extended to cover the proposed policy and organisational amendments. (Reference paragraph: 286] |
REC037-4167 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The definitions of command, control and co—ordination, as stated in the Australian Counter Disaster Handbook, be standardised throughout Victoria’s counter—disaster system. [Reference paragraphs: 106 to 111] |
REC037-4166 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | In the future development of Victoria’s counter—disaster capability, effective utilisation and management of resources be regarded as a major objective. |
REC037-4160 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The current counter—bushfire concept be retained, with the proviso that it be kept under continuous review to ensure that all relevant future developments and techniques are effectively utilised. (Reference paragraphs: 88 to 90 and 257 to 259] |
REC037-4165 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | • Proposed amendments to the State Disaster Plan be formalised |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC013_3974 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | To link up fallow paddocks and natural fire breaks by ploughing or burning breaks through private or public property, roads, &c. |
REC013_3979 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That burning off by "occupiers" on any lands be regulated by permit or by regulation. |