Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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. |
REC327-4348 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | By December 2023, the Rural Fire Service should: report annually on fleet allocations to RFS Districts, and identify the ways in which fleet resources align with district-level fire risks |
REC327-4349 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | By December 2023, the Rural Fire Service should: develop performance measures to assess the performance and capabilities of the fleet in each RFS District by recording and publicly reporting on: fire response times and fire response outcomes; and, completions of fire hazard reduction works. |
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. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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. |
REC315-3828 | 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: |
REC315-3820 | 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. |
REC315-3864 | 9 - Community education | That, in order to ensure people can access clear information on cross-border fires, the NSW RFS: |
REC315-3806 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That the NSW RFS work with AFAC to analyse the impact of changing fire seasons on inter- jurisdictional resource sharing agreements, both domestic and international, and determine any flow-on effects for NSW fire fighting personnel capacity. |
REC315-3863 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That, in order to provide real-time information on evacuation doorknocking during emergency events, Government explore a shared data gateway for NSW agencies based on the NSW State Emergency Service Collector app and a common mapping and analytics platform. |
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: |
REC315-3804 | 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. |
REC315-3835 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That, in order to ensure the safety of local landholders on firegrounds, the NSW RFS emphasises the importance of local landholders using protective clothing while fire fighting as part of the RFS’ ‘Farm Fire Unit Integration’ priority for 2020-21. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC314-3264 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | Consider removing stamp duty from home insurance to encourage a wider section of the community to take out insurance. South Australian government agencies should share their risk modelling data with the Insurance Council of Australia. |
REC314-3260 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Align risk assessment tools and processes to Risk Management Standard ISO 31000 and the National Emergency Risk Assessment Guidelines (NERAG) and communicate these on public-facing platforms. Make Bushfire Management Area Plans (BMAP) accountable for managing and reporting on region-specific risk and identifying critical infrastructure such as mobile phone towers as key risks. |
REC314-3259 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Implement previous review recommendations for bushfire management including those relating to the 2009 amendments to the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005, State Bushfire Coordination Committee operation, State Bushfire Management Plan, as well as urgent completion of Codes of Practice for fuel hazard reduction on all land tenures, and redevelopment of Bushfire Management Area Plans accompanied by effective community engagement to build an understanding of risk. |
REC314-3269 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Develop and practice procedures for the CFS, DEW and local governments to access and deploy heavy plant and machinery for fuel reduction operations both before and during bushfires. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC302-2394 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Take immediate steps to eliminate fire boundaries for call and dispatch purposes to create an agnostic approach to the threat of fires from both a departmental and organisational perspective |
REC302-2393 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | In recognising the success of the work of both the volunteer based Rural Fire Service and the full time Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) members in joint operations – both agencies should be represented at major briefings or press conferences to reinforce successful integrated collaborative efforts rather than individual agency achievements |
REC302-2400 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Until a single call centre is developed, continue deployments of a senior RFS officer to Fire and Rescue NSW ComCen on a 24/7 day basis. This arrangement should determine the quickest most suitable resource and who is ‘in charge’ of an incident |
REC302-2396 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Commissioners of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the RFS issue an instruction to FRNSW ComCen that while AVL capability is being made available to the RFS vehicle fleet, no offers of assistance by one agency to the other in combatting a fire is rejected or delayed if what is being offered is appropriate |
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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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: |
REC280-1400 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Office of State Revenue investigate mechanisms to enhance the affordability of insurance for properties and assets in fire affected areas. |
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. |
REC280-1397 | 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. |
REC280-1395 | 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. |
REC280-1403 | 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. |
REC280-1391 | 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. |
REC280-1402 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services and NSW Treasury: |
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. |
REC280-1401 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the NSW Government take all reasonable steps to expedite the process of establishing any legal liability for the losses incurred by property owners as a result of the Wambelong fire, and in the event that it is found liable, expedite the process of paying compensation claims. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC273-1131 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That the Emergency Management Australia’s ‘Arrangements for Interstate Assistance (Fire and Emergency Services)’ be applied to all future requests for assistance by the SACFS, SAMFS and SASES. |
REC273-1129 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Incorporating ‘triggers’ within Chief Officers Standing Orders No. 17, which requires the escalation of the State Controller role to the rank of Assistant Chief Officer or greater, depending on the increased risk or activity. |
REC273-1145 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Review relevant Legislation associated Acts and Plans to establish a consistent approach to fire and emergency management to minimise duplication and risk of contradiction. That the Hazard and Functional area plans be amalgamated and establish a SA Bushfire Plan, under the SEMP, which clearly define role of SACFS. |
REC273-1128 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Incorporate in operational doctrine the ability for the State Controller to determine the operational readiness levels of the state or regions based on either the predicted and/or actual risk and/or activity to some or all of the regions. |
REC273-1143 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That SACFS in consultation with SAMFS consider adopting common terminology and capability requirements for strike teams being ‘4-5 appliances and a group officer’ in line with other jurisdictions. |
REC273-1133 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That a complete review of current naming conventions of personnel and centres, in accordance with the outcomes of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission is undertaken, to ensure clarity around command, control and coordination within SA. |
REC273-1132 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Noting the implementation of Common Incident Command and Control System (CICCS) in SA that fire and emergency services together with police (including through AFAC and ANZPAA), continue to liaise regarding the development of a national incident management. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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: |
REC261-1519 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services and NSW Treasury: |
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. |
REC261-1518 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the NSW Government take all reasonable steps to expedite the process of establishing any legal liability for the losses incurred by property owners as a result of the Wambelong fire, and in the event that it is found liable, expedite the process of paying compensation claims. |
REC261-1517 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the Office of State Revenue investigate mechanisms to enhance the affordability of insurance for properties and assets in fire affected areas. |
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. |
REC261-1512 | 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. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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. |
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. |
REC260-1067 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That as part of the adoption of such a posture in ‘severe’ or worse fire conditions, the National Parks and Wildlife Service consider alerting, at an early stage, all relevant persons and organisations, such as shire councils, heavy plant operators, the local RFS captains, Fire & Rescue NSW and other emergency services, that it is doing so, and that their assistance may be required at short notice. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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. |
REC259-1047 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | That the insurance industry be asked to include in its “Code of Practice” the need to consult policy holders in bushfire prone areas on the issue of Bushfire Attack Level (BAL). This will ensure, to some extent, that policy holders insure their properties to a level commensurate with building costs under a variety of building standards and requirements.(For checking with RFS). |
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 |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC153-1774 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Emergency Services, the Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service, the President of the Farmers’ Federation of South Australia and the Minister for Local Government, with a view to developing a Code of Practice, establish a body to investigate the impact of existing farming practices on bushfire risk and prevention. |
REC153-1788 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Emergency Services and the Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service cause to be included among the SACFS’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) a requirement that Incident |
REC153-1787 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Emergency Services, the South Australian Country Fire Service, the South Australia Police and the South Australian Farmers’ Federation together continue to develop strategies to reduce the risk of harm to private firefighters and in particular: |
REC153-1786 | 9 - Community education | That the Minister for Emergency Services and the South Australian Country Fire Service implement programs to develop in the minds of citizens a heightened awareness of bushfire risk, and in particular to encourage citizens to listen for radio announcements relating to the progression of a fire during the course of a bushfire incident |
REC153-1805 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Emergency Services, the Minister for Environment, the Chief Officer of the CFS and the Native Vegetation Council, together develop a Code of Practice relating to the management of native vegetation as it affects bushfire prevention. |
REC153-1785 | 9 - Community education | That the Minister for Emergency Services in conjunction with the South Australian Country Fire Service conduct tuition courses to be made available to the general public to enable members of the public to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to implement their preparation and planning for bushfires |
REC153-1790 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Emergency Services and the Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service cause to be included among the SACFS’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) a requirement that Incident |
REC153-1778 | 9 - Community education | That the President of the South Australian Farmers’ Federation of South Australia draws these recommendations and findings to the attention of its members and constituents |
REC153-1789 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Emergency Services and the Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service cause to be included among the SACFS’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) a requirement that Incident |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC139-3550 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State Bushfire Coordination Committee work with the Native Vegetation Council to develop more streamlined processes for the prescribed burning of native vegetation for hazard reduction. |
REC139-3537 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The requirement for a rural council to appoint a suitably qualified Fire Prevention Officer under section 77 of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 is removed. |
REC139-3542 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Bushfire Management Committees will have the following members who reside and/or are employed/assigned in the area of responsibility, with experience in bushfire management: |
REC139-3548 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The current provisions for permit to light and maintain fire under Section 81 of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act and Regulations 2005 to be reviewed for improvement with an accreditation for a self-regulation process. |
REC139-3536 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The requirement for a rural council to establish a District Bushfire Prevention Committees under section 75 of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 is removed. |
REC139-3541 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Bushfire Management Committees will have the following functions: |
REC139-3547 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The principle of developing Codes of Practice for Bushfire Management, referenced in the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act and Regulations 2005 be endorsed and further developed by the State Bushfire Coordination Committee. |
REC139-3535 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The requirement to establish Regional Bushfire Prevention Committees under section 73 of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005, is removed. |
REC139-3540 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State Bushfire Coordination Committee will have the following members with experience in bushfire management: |
REC139-3545 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | SA Country Fire Service to be responsible for Bushfire Management Plan preparation, analysis of future risks trends based on investigation and executive support to Bushfire Management Committees. |
REC139-3534 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The SA Bushfire Prevention Advisory Committee established under section 71 of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005, is removed and replaced with the State Bushfire Coordination Committee. |
REC139-3539 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State Bushfire Coordination Committee will have the following functions: |
REC139-3544 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The area of responsibility for Bushfire Management Committees will be established based on bushfire risk and the capacity of the area to cooperate and collaborate. |
REC139-3538 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The requirement to establish a Bushfire Management Committee is inserted into the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005. |
REC139-3543 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Bushfire Management Committees be given the appropriate powers under the SA Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 to ensure that bushfire management strategies that have been identified in a Bushfire Management Plan or any other action to reduce bushfire risk, are completed by individuals, the community, agencies or organisations. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC129-3621 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and establish a time table to finalise all emergency and contingency plans. |
REC129-3632 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and develop distinct surge capacity plans within each Area Health Service to manage emergency staffing needs, isolation facilities, intensive care units, assisted ventilation services, hospital beds and medical supplies. |
REC129-3631 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and continue to develop plans to respond to the surge in demand for diagnostic tests and for laboratory personnel. |
REC129-3630 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and continue to develop systems to bring all the information relevant to the surge in demand for health resources together in real time. |
REC129-3625 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | We recommend that NSW Health continue with its good work and establish a performance management framework with targets and indicators to assess progress in preparing for infectious disease emergencies. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC128-3610 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Minister for Primary Industries consider amending the Stock Diseases Act 1923 to ban the supply of waste swill to pig owners by food retailing businesses such as bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets. |
REC128-3605 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | That the Department of Primary Industries make every effort to meet its targets for the TSE program and encourage public and private sector veterinarians across the State to submit samples. The Department should include reports on its performance against these targets in annual reports. |
REC128-3619 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | That the Department of Primary Industries should ensure the roles and capacities of Rural Lands Protection Boards and industry are effectively monitored to enable assessment of the effectiveness of animal health programs. |
REC128-3602 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | That the Department’s performance against tactical and strategic benchmarks be regularly reported in annual reports or animal and plant health emergency evaluation reports and compared to other jurisdictions where possible. |
REC128-3618 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Department of Primary Industries should complete a review of the Memorandum of Understanding and ensure the roles of the Department and Rural Lands Protection Boards are more clearly identified outlined for effective delivery of animal health programs. |
REC128-3601 | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | That, as a matter of principle, the NSW Government provide public reports on the lessons learned from emergency exercises which it manages or in which it participates. If necessary, such reports should exclude material which might jeopardise security. |
REC128-3615 | 9 - Community education | That the Department of Primary Industries should continue to raise awareness among producers of OJD risks and the operation of Sheep Health Statements. |
REC128-3599 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | In order to improve the response to animal health emergencies, that the Department of Primary Industries prioritise the finalisation of Memoranda of Understanding with the four jurisdictions bordering New South Wales. |
REC128-3613 | 9 - Community education | That the Department of Primary Industries and Rural Lands Protection Boards employ outreach activities to alert these small producers to their responsibilities and improve their awareness of animal and plant pests and diseases. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC122-3788 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Native Vegetation Council have a consistent approach to prescribed burning on both public and private lands. |
REC122-3786 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Native Vegetation Act be amended to allow for prescribed burning. |
REC122-3797 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the Native Vegetation Council continue to seek mechanisms to interact with, and educate the individual farmer and landholder with respect to the Native Vegetation Act, its regulations and exemptions. |
REC122-3796 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the government undertake public education programs to increase the awareness of the community to bushfires, the role fire plays in ecosystems and what steps they should take to minimise the impact of a fire. |
REC122-3790 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that prescribed burning should only be undertaken by professionally trained personnel. |
REC122-3789 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the native vegetation planning and approval process for prescribed burning be amended to allow flexibility for burning on optimum days. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC013_3979 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That burning off by "occupiers" on any lands be regulated by permit or by regulation. |
REC013_3969 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The subsidy of such Fire Brigade organisations by the insurance companies and the Government to be given favourable consideration, from a proportion of which the expenses of the Central Administration might be met. |
REC013_3980 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | To provide that any person desirous of insuring his crops against fire shall first submit his proposal to two responsible persons for their endorsement that, in their opinion, the crop is likely to produce the value for which the insurer proposes to take out the oolicy, and that, in the event of such endorsement not being obtained, the risk be not accepted. |