Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC322-4241 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services consider expanding specialist Remote Area Firefighting Team capability to assist in responding to significant bushfire events which occur in rugged or inaccessible terrain. |
REC322-4233 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Department of Environment and Science review the current description of Level 1, 2, and 3 bushfire incidents and the implied meaning of property in the Queensland Bushfire Plan. This review should identify and agree on clear criteria and decision points for the transfer of control and develop a standard process and templates. |
REC322-4244 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science review its training framework and minimum mandatory training requirements for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Incident Controllers to ensure they are appropriately trained to manage significant events. |
REC322-4234 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science review its suite of operational doctrine to ensure arrangements for situational reporting and requests for assistance are aligned to recognised multi-agency practices used in disaster management. |
REC322-4225 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Maryborough District Disaster Management Group works with the Fraser Coast Local Disaster Management Group to prepare and exercise a communications sub-plan with all responsible agencies, to clarify the roles, responsibilities and communication channels used for restricting access to K’gari. |
REC322-4247 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends a collaborative review of firelines, tracks and trails on K’gari be undertaken by the Department of Environment and Science, in collaboration with the Locality Specific Area Fire Management Group and the Butchulla people, to ensure an adequate network is agreed by relevant stakeholders, and roles and responsibilities for maintenance are agreed and documented. |
REC322-4236 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the arrangements and requirements for situational reporting when an incident is under the control of the Department of Environment and Science be detailed in the Queensland Bushfire Plan. These arrangements should also be outlined in relevant joint entity agreements and operational doctrine. |
REC322-4228 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends a public information resource be developed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to inform the community and stakeholders about aerial assets utilised in bushfire response. |
REC322-4237 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science develop and implement a Wildfire Response Plan for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Coastal and Islands Region, to be included in the region’s Disaster Management Operations Plan. |
REC322-4229 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services identifies stakeholders that would benefit from predictive service products. Suitable advice and training should be provided to these stakeholders to assist with using and interpreting the products. |
REC322-4238 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science ensure that all Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service regions develop a Disaster Management Operations Plan based on a standardised format. The plans should include provision for annual review to ensure they remain contemporary, interoperable with relevant disaster management plans and aligned to the Department of Environment and Science Emergency Management Plan. |
REC322-4231 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services examines the use of predictive service capability to inform prevention and preparedness in addition to response activities. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC316-4024 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Government consider amendments to the Emergencies Act to include provision for a Deputy ESA Commissioner. |
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. |
REC316-4021 | 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. |
REC316-4048 | 37 - Funding | Government consider adopting a similar model to NSW for the management of emergency costs and reimbursements within ACT Government agencies. |
REC316-4020 | 16 - Training and behaviour | EPSDD and ESA work together to develop values officer training and accreditation. |
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. |
REC316-4035 | 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. |
REC316-4051 | 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. |
REC316-4025 | 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. |
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. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC307-2426 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Queensland's plans and arrangements for heatwave should be reviewed to provide for an intergrated multi-agency approach to their management. A single agency should lead and oversee this process. |
REC307-2438 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The national messages for catastrophic fire danger ratings should be integrated with all existing and new community bushfire safety information. |
REC307-2445 | 16 - Training and behaviour | All agencies should identify the capacity and appropriate positions for the role of liaison officers, and ensure sufficient numbers are trained. |
REC307-2435 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Building capacity in fire simulation and predictive capabilities, including the capability of people to read and interpret these products through training, should be investigated and considered. |
REC307-2443 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Planning for response to bushfire risk should identify all stakeholders to be engaged in the response phase and their roles and responsibilities should be clearly documented. |
REC307-2434 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Given an increasing risk of intense fires, the framework of legislation relating to vegetation management, bushfire mitigation and preparation priorities should be re-assessed. The re-assessment should aim to enable more appropriate and flexible means at the local level for the reduction of intense fires. |
REC307-2442 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Hazard-specific plans and guidelines should be published on external websites for access by relevant stakeholders. |
REC307-2432 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Legislation at state and local level requiring landholders to reduce fire risk on their property should be actively applied |
REC307-2441 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Hazard-specific and disaster management guidelines and plans should explain the circumstances and process for hazard-specific activation of the disaster management arrangements in support of an incident. They should be relevant to local authorities and local and district groups, and used during events. |
REC307-2427 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Wherever possible, the antecedents that will lead to catastrophic fire weather conditions existing for a particular area should be identified and documented within fire management plan relevant to the area. |
REC307-2440 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Communications protocols about hazard-specific events should be developed to clarify responsibilities and the principles for the release of information and warnings. They should be included in all related hazard-specific plans and published on relevant websites, and used during events. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC241-0956 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That, wherever possible, combined training take place between volunteers across a wide range of volunteer organisations. |
REC241-1032 | 37 - Funding | That the current Urban Fire Levy be changed to the Queensland Fire Levy. |
REC241-0980 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That Rural Fire Service Queensland to have its own training support coordinators who, in conjunction with external Registered Training Organisations, co-ordinate the training curriculum throughout Queensland. |
REC241-0985 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the Department of Community Safety review Rural Fire Service Queensland and other volunteer organisation records and consider options to simplify recognition of training records and competencies, criminal history checks, equipment capacities and other background information for volunteers who belong to more than one volunteer organisation. |
REC241-1031 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the State Government recognises the legal status of rural fire brigades as per Crown Law advice and addressed by Recommendations from this Review. |
REC241-0977 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That all volunteer training conducted by the Rural Fire Service Queensland will be relevant to employment levels within the Rural Fire Service Queensland. |
REC241-1041 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That, as with Recommendation 23 related to Rural Fire employees, all State Emergency Service employees should have a recorded history of volunteering. |
REC241-0984 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That Rural Fire Service Queensland work with the State Emergency Service, Surf Life Saving Queensland and other volunteer organisations to develop training programs which can be recognised by all organisations (E.G. chainsaw training, Four-wheel drive training) |
REC241-1018 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That members of Primary Producer and Rural Classified Brigades will only require a Criminal History Check if they become an office bearer of that Brigade. |
REC241-0976 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That Rural Fire Service Queensland recognise training and experience in rural fire Brigades as equal to experience gained in other rural fire services when considering candidates for employment. |
REC241-1035 | 37 - Funding | That the State Government contribution towards the purchase of operational vehicles is to be retained at 80 percent but that the District Inspector can recommend full Government subsidy of vehicles for Brigades experiencing financial hardship. |
REC241-0983 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the current Primary Producer Brigade manual be withdrawn and a working group comprising Rural Fire Service Queensland staff, Rural Fire Brigade Association of Queensland representatives and Primary Producer Brigade volunteers and as a priority produce a new, simpler and less bureaucratic booklet. |
REC241-1013 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That Rural Fire Service Queensland undertake a risk management process for rural fire Brigade profiles across Queensland based on the principles in the Rural Fire Brigade Risk Management Guide, July 1999, and updated as necessary. |
REC241-0974 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That all employees of Rural Fire Service Queensland MUST demonstrate a background in, knowledge or experience of land management and volunteering. |
REC241-1034 | 37 - Funding | That the State Government contribution towards the construction of Brigade sheds be changed from $10,000 to a maximum of 25 percent, subject to the approval of the Deputy Chief Officer, Rural Fire Service Queensland. |
REC241-0982 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the requirement for Primary Producer Brigade members to undertake a Firefighter Minimum Skills course be removed and replaced with a ‘Primary Producer Brigade Induction’ course. |
REC241-1011 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the focus of Rural Fire Service Queensland will be the protection of life, property and the environment from the threat and impact of wildfire. |
REC241-0969 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That a mobile training program be established for areas with identified above average fire risk to train in fire behaviour and Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System principles across land tenures. |
REC241-1033 | 37 - Funding | When a local Rural Fire Brigade requests an equipment and maintenance levy from a local government authority, that authority will either supply the brigade’s equipment and maintenance costs or raise the requested levy. The amount to be collected is to be agreed between the local Brigade and the local government authority. |
REC241-0981 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That Rural Fire Service Queensland utilise external Registered Training Organisations for the training of volunteers and other stakeholders. |
REC241-0999 | 28 - Personal responsibility | That on all land where fuel load creates a fire risk, the owner shall be responsible for the construction and maintenance of effective firebreaks. Failure to provide effective and accessible firebreaks will result in the cost of firebreak construction to control a wildfire on this land being debited to the land owner |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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. |
REC228-1628 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Emergency Services Agency should develop and test administrative procedures for the communications systems used for the distribution of public warning and emergency alerts. |
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. |
REC228-1621 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Emergency Services Agency should improve its management of the Community Fire Unit Program 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. |
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. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC191-0266 | 37 - Funding | that QFRS cover the cost of annual vehicle inspection certificates for rural fire brigade registered vehicles. |
REC191-0275 | 37 - Funding | that the for Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services ensure that the formula for distribution of funding as recommended above allows rural fire brigades to control any donation or sponsorship funding raised by individual brigades. |
REC191-0274 | 37 - Funding | that the for Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services undertake a thorough review, including consultation with rural fire brigades, regarding the proposed formula for distribution of funding. |
REC191-0273 | 37 - Funding | that the for Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services implement system of fire levies for landholders situated in urban, iZone and village brigade areas. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC150-3115 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | QFRS establish a structured risk management process for rural fire management, which involves regional and area offices, to enhance decision making processes and ensure opportunities are maximised and losses are minimised. This process should be linked to forward planning and incorporate existing processes such as: |
REC150-3127 | 16 - Training and behaviour | QFRS improve the capacity to address the brigade training gap by continuing to encourage and facilitate the accreditation of volunteer trainers within brigades where appropriate. |
REC150-3126 | 16 - Training and behaviour | QFRS continue to support area training staff in the development and implementation of brigade training programs and calendars. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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) |
REC126-1983 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the Australian Federal Police and the Emergency Services Agency ensure that personnel in their respective organisations are fully briefed on the agreed policy on evacuations |
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 |
REC126-1966 | 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 |
REC126-1943 | 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 |
REC126-1982 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That the Australian Federal Police and the Emergency Services Agency agree on a policy on community safety and evacuation during bushfires, based on the Australasian Fire Authorities Council position outlined in its paper Community Safety and Evacuation during Bushfires. Community education programs should incorporate advice on this, including the ‘stay or go’ policy |
REC126-1957 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the Emergency Services Agency review the level of understanding among firefighting personnel of the latest information available nationally and internationally about wildfire behaviour and suppression and provide additional training if warranted |
REC126-1998 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That a system of public warnings that uses grid references shown on the maps in the Canberra telephone directory be adopted |
REC126-1965 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That helicopters be used wherever possible to facilitate the rapid deployment of remote area firefighting crews |
REC126-1980 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That public land management agencies ensure that their senior personnel have appropriate experience in fire management and are provided with adequate resources and suitable experienced and trained staff to effectively implement fire management programs |
REC126-1955 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That training of all personnel involved with emergency services be under constant review |
REC126-1997 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That the Emergency Services Agency conduct investigations - and liase with emergency services agencies in other jurisdicions - in order to ascertain what technologies exist and are effective for use in disseminating warnings and associated information to the community of the ACT |
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 |
REC126-1978 | 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 |
REC126-1946 | 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 |
REC126-1994 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That the Emergnecy Services Agency publicise and demonstrate the use of the Standard Emergency Warning Signal and provide to the community adequate explanation of the application of the signal. This should occur at least annually, in conjunction with any pre-summer fire awareness initiatives |
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 |
REC126-1969 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That a review be conducted of the adequacy of training and the numbers of firefighters experienced in performing effective, safe large-scale back-burning operations |
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 |
REC126-1989 | 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 |
REC126-1962 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That version 2 of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan be completed and introduced without delay |
REC126-1968 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That land managers ensure their staff are properly trained in the effective use of large bulldozers at wildfires and that staff are available to be assigned to supervise bulldozer operations |