Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC317-4077 | 26 - Research | Australian, state and territory governments should support ongoing research and evaluation into aerial firefighting. This research and evaluation should include: |
REC317-4118 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Australian, state and territory governments should create a single national scheme for the regulation of charitable fundraising. |
REC317-4096 | 8 - Communications and warnings | State and territory governments should urgently deliver and implement thevall-hazard Australian Warning System. |
REC317-4124 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | In reviewing the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, Australian, state and territory governments should examine the small disaster criterion, and financial thresholds generally. |
REC317-4058 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Australian Government should enhance national preparedness for, and response to, natural disasters, building on the responsibilities of Emergency Management Australia, to include facilitating resource sharing decisions of governments and stress testing national disaster plans. |
REC317-4101 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Australian, state and territory governments should develop national air quality forecasting capabilities, which include broad coverage of population centres and apply to smoke and other airborne pollutants, such as dust and pollen, to predict plume behaviour. |
REC317-4075 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Australian Government should afford appropriate legal protections from civil and criminal liability to Australian Defence Force members when conducting activities under an authorisation to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. |
REC317-4117 | 33 - Relief and recovery | State and territory governments should develop and implement efficient and effective arrangements to: |
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. |
REC317-4123 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Australian, state and territory governments should ensure that personal information of individuals affected by a natural disaster is able to be appropriately shared between all levels of government, agencies, insurers, charities and organisations delivering recovery services, taking account of all necessary safeguards to ensure the sharing is only for recovery purposes. |
REC317-4056 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Australian Government agencies should work together across all phases of disaster management. |
REC317-4100 | 9 - Community education | Australian, state and territory governments should: |
REC317-4132 | 26 - Research | The material published as part of this Royal Commission should remain available and accessible on a long-term basis for the benefit of individuals, communities, organisations, businesses and all levels of government. |
REC317-4073 | 24 - Govt responsibility | State and territory governments should take steps to ensure that there is better interaction, planning and ongoing understanding of Australian Defence Force capabilities and processes by state and territory fire and emergency service agencies and local governments. |
REC317-4116 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Governments should create and publish standing policy guidance on whether they will or will not assist to clean-up debris, including contaminated debris, resulting from natural hazards. |
REC317-4094 | 8 - Communications and warnings | State and territory governments should expedite the development and implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System. It should ensure that there is national consistency in the visual display of the AFDRS and action to be taken in response to each rating. |
REC317-4122 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Australian, state and territory and local governments should evaluate the effectiveness of existing financial assistance measures to inform the development of a suite of pre-effective pre-determined recovery supports. |
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: |
REC317-4099 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Australian, state and territory governments should continue to explore the feasibility of a national, all-hazard emergency warning app. |
REC317-4131 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Each state and territory government should establish an independent accountability and assurance mechanism to promote continuous improvement and best practice in natural disaster arrangements. |
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. |
REC317-4113 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The insurance industry, as represented by the Insurance Council of Australia, working with state and territory governments and other relevant stakeholders, should produce and communicate to consumers clear guidance on individual-level natural hazard risk mitigation actions insurers will recognise in setting insurance premiums. |
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. |
REC317-4120 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Australian, state and territory governments should establish a national mechanism for sharing of trained and qualified recovery personnel and best practice during and following natural disasters. |
REC317-4054 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Australian, state and territory governments should establish an authoritative advisory body to consolidate advice on strategic policy and relevant operational considerations for ministers in relation to natural disasters. |
REC317-4098 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Australian Government should facilitate state and territory governments working together to develop minimum national standards of information to be included in bushfire warnings apps. |
REC317-4127 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Australian, state and territory governments should incorporate the principle of ‘build back better’ more broadly into the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. |
REC317-4069 | 24 - Govt responsibility | State and territory governments should update and implement the National Framework to Improve Government Radio Communications Interoperability, or otherwise agree a new strategy, to achieve interoperable communications across jurisdictions. |
REC317-4112 | 9 - Community education | State and territory governments should: |
REC317-4078 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Australian, state and territory governments should adopt procurement and contracting strategies that support and develop a broader Australian-based sovereign aerial firefighting industry. |
REC317-4119 | 33 - Relief and recovery | The Australian Government, through the mechanism of the proposed standing national recovery and resilience agency, should convene regular and ongoing national forums for charities, non-government organisations and volunteer groups, with a role in natural disaster recovery, with a view to continuous improvement of coordination of recovery support. |
REC317-4053 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Australian, state and territory governments should restructure and reinvigorate ministerial forums with a view to enabling timely and informed strategic decision-making in respect of: |
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. |
REC317-4126 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Australian, state and territory governments should expedite the development of pre-agreed recovery programs, including those that address social needs, such as legal assistance domestic violence, and also environmental recovery. |
REC317-4064 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Australian, state and territory governments should work together to develop consistent data standards to measure disaster impact. |
REC317-4104 | 33 - Relief and recovery | Australian, state and territory governments should refine arrangements to support localised planning and the delivery of appropriate mental health services following a natural disaster. |
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. |
REC278-1221 | 26 - Research | The committee recommends that the Australian Government, in cooperation with the Tasmanian Government: • recognise the need to identify the ecological and biodiversity impacts of fire on fire sensitive vegetation communities, organic soils and endemic fauna species in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area; and • allocate long-teerm funding to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and/or the Tasmanian Government to assist with the development of fire assessment and modelling specifically suited to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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. |
REC257-1536 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Australian defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal course be reviewed by Manager Joint Training - Air Force, to ensure the assessments meet the learning outcomes specificed in the relevant Training Management Package. |
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. |
REC257-1540 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Commanding Officer Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School, assisted by Joint Logistics Command Regional Explosive Ordnance Serices staff, conduct explosive ordnance accounting training for all instructional staff as a matter of priority and that such training be conducted for Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School staff on an annual basis. |
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. |
REC257-1538 | 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. |
REC257-1551 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The use of Internal and External ranges at MTA for patrolling activities be prohibited. |
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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REC176-0149 | 26 - Research | The Productivity Commission be tasked to assess the economic effects of recent major bushfires on the Australian economy to determine the cost effectiveness of prescribed burning as a mitigation strategy. |
REC176-0148 | 26 - Research | At the conclusion of the current Bushfire CRC funding agreement the Commonwealth establish a new permanent bushfire research institute. |
REC176-0146 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Commonwealth organise the co-operation of state land management and fire agencies to provide the practical training aspect of the curriculum as part of a national bushfire accreditation course. |
REC176-0145 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Commonwealth assist the states with bushfire training for land managers and volunteers by co-ordinating curriculum development and delivery of a national bushfire accreditation course, to be delivered by the relevant state agencies. |
REC176-0143 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Commonwealth Government work with the states and their agencies to ensure consistent terminology is used when communicating with the public. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC098-2147 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre conduct further research on the impact of weeds on the flammability of land and the most economically and environmentally appropriate way to remove weeds after fire events. |
REC098-2188 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that Program E of the Bushfire Cooperative Centre, which is tasked with the development of the next generation of fire researchers and dissemination of the Centre’s work, be tasked further to collect and respond to feedback, particularly from the on ground volunteer levels of fire brigades, on the practicality of its outputs and their future requirements. |
REC098-2130 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre establish, as part of its program to implement a single fuel classification system, a national database that provides information on current levels and rates of accumulation of fuel loads that takes into account vegetation type and climate across all tenures of land, including private land where data is available. |
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. |
REC098-2137 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre establish a minimum national standard that is common across all tenures of land for water access and availability for bushfire fighting. |
REC098-2175 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Committee recommends that insurance companies ensure that potential and existing policyholders are aware of the need to regularly review their insurance policies to prevent undervaluing. This could be done through renewal notices and quarterly reminders. This should include a list of bushfire risk reduction measures that policyholders can implement to decrease the cost of their premium. |
REC098-2146 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre conduct further research into the long term effects and effectiveness of grazing as a fire mitigation practice. |
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. |
REC098-2157 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government work with Australasian Fire Authorities Council to review the insurance cover provided to volunteer fire fighters in all states and territories and ensure that cover is adequate for loss of life or injury and related loss of income and property lost in the line of duty. |
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. |
REC098-2174 | 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). |
REC098-2145 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre monitor the effect of grazing on mitigating the return of woody weeds to recently fire effected areas across various landscapes including |
REC098-2183 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | Further to recommendation 21 in Chapter 4, the Committee recommends that the Commonwealth seeks to ensure that the proposed Council of Australian Governments review of the bushfire management, initiate |
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 |
REC098-2134 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre determine a minimum national standard, taking into account topography and vegetation type, for adequate access to all public lands |
REC098-2172 | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | The Committee recommends that taxes on insurance premiums be calculated only on the premium in order to eliminate the current cascading cost. |
REC098-2144 | 26 - Research | The Committee acknowledges community concerns about smoke pollution as a result of prescribed burning and recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre pursue its proposed study into smoke modelling. |
REC098-2182 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre’s research and recommend property protection products and programs under Program D. |
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 |
REC098-2132 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre establish, as part of its program to implement a single fuel classification system, standards which take into account local conditions including topography and vegetation type, for determining appropriate dimensions for asset protection zones. |
REC098-2170 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia request the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to: |
REC098-2143 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that, as part of its study into improving the effectiveness of prescribed burning, the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre establish a national database that includes areas targeted for fuel reduction, the area of fuel reduction achieved based on a specified standard of on ground verification and the season in which the reduction was achieved. The Committee also recommends that in developing this database the Cooperative Research Centre develop a national standard of fire mapping, which accurately maps the extent, intensity, spread and overall pattern of prescribed and wildfires in Australia. |
REC098-2180 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that (under Programs C and E) the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre considers the following items as part of a national education program. |
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 |
REC098-2131 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth through the Council of Australian Governments ensure that states and territories have adequate controls to ensure that local governments implement required fuel management standards on private property and land under their control. |
REC098-2166 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia work through the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to ensure that: |
REC098-2141 | 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 |
REC098-2179 | 26 - Research | The Committee recommends that Program D of the Commonwealth Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre examines the (pending) outcome of the ABCB’s review of the existing Building Code of Australia bushfire |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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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] |
REC037-4168 | 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. |
REC037-4165 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | • Proposed amendments to the State Disaster Plan be formalised |
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] |