Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC325-4329 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services implement the Australian Warning System for all nationally agreed hazards by 1 November 2023. Implementation should include guidance and training to all local governments and agencies operationally involved in disaster management, with emphasis on those agencies with hazard specific responsibility. |
REC325-4338 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the Bureau of Meteorology investigate options for the consolidation of ownership, renewed capital and maintenance in the flood warning network in consultation with flood warning infrastructure asset owners. |
REC325-4332 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends that all local governments that do not have pre-formatted messages and polygons engage with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and determine whether their local disaster management group capability could be improved through the development of pre-formatted polygons and messages. |
REC325-4332 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends that all local governments that currently use pre-formatted messages within the Emergency Alert system review and, where necessary, redraft messages using the principles of Clear Explicit Translatable Language (CETL). |
REC325-4335 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services update and deliver training on the workflow reviewed (as per Recommendation 3) of the current Emergency Alert system to all persons responsible at a local, district and state level by 1 November 2022. Training should address system constraints and system complexities in addition to the process of requesting, composing (including Clear Explicit Translatable Language [CETL]), authorising and issuing Emergency Alerts. |
REC325-4326 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services lead an inter-agency IT system assessment with Queensland Police Service and local governments to identify disaster management systems currently in use and develop options to enhance connectivity and interoperability between systems. Outputs to be considered include, but are not limited to, consideration of requests for assistance (RFA) and the production of situation reports. |
REC325-4336 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, in consultation with the Queensland Police Service, incorporate into the workflow of the current Emergency Alert system a process that ensures the inclusion of an ‘urgent approval and distribution without delay’ process for Emergency Alert messages by 1 November 2022. |
REC325-4327 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends all local governments that offer an opt-in system develop strategies to increase the number of subscribers who elect to use this service. As part of the annual disaster management plan assessment process for the period 2023–2025, the Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management will request information from the relevant local disaster management groups to highlight and share innovative practices that have led to an increase in subscription levels for opt-in services. |
REC325-4337 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Inspector-General of Emergency Management recommends Queensland Fire and Emergency Services lead an urgent multi-agency (including but not limited to the Queensland Police Service and Brisbane City Council) review of the workflow, of the current Emergency Alert system, including requesting, composing, authorising and issuing of Emergency Alerts by 1 November 2022. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
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. |
REC322-4231 | 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. |
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. |
REC322-4224 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science examines the utilisation of technology, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to improve the collection of visitor numbers and movement data. This could include, for example, expanding the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to K’gari and examining the suitability of mobile phone check-in applications. |
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. |
REC322-4228 | 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. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC309-2475 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Greater emphasis be placed on pre-planned and pre-determined arrangements between the Australian Defence Force and State and local agencies. |
REC309-2474 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The provision of system-wide tools, education, guidance and testing for requests for assistance is strengthened to enhance understanding and outcomes. |
REC309-2471 | 17 - Assets and technology | As part of the annual Emergency Action Plan review for the Ross River Dam, consideration should be given to the potential impacts of operating the gate outside automatic mode and whether this event has provided any new information and learnings which can be incorporated into the Emergency Action Plan. This should occur prior to the 2019/20 wet season. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC308-2464 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The provision of system-wide education, guidance and testing to enhance requests for Assistance is strengthened. |
REC308-2457 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Efforts are made to improve the timeliness, accuracy and targeting of Emergency Alert messaging by: |
REC308-2451 | 17 - Assets and technology | Queensland should examine the feasibility of the installation of storm tide markers in prominent public places and the exploration of new technology to highlight storm tide risk to the community and its visitors. |
REC308-2450 | 17 - Assets and technology | The operation and maintenance of flood gauges should be developed and planned for on a catchment basis. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
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. |
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. |
REC307-2435 | 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. |
REC307-2445 | 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. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC290-1219 | 17 - Assets and technology | Live resource tracking system that can be used by all response agencies |
REC290-1210 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Co‐designed arrangements that support a unified response to fire |
REC290-1209 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Coordinated and targeted mitigation of fire risk |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC265-1117 | 17 - Assets and technology | Automatic Vehicle Location technology should be adopted to enable a better appreciation of the deployment and location of appliances at an incident, in order to increase situational awareness |
REC265-1105 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Executive Teams of both DFES and DPaW should meet quarterly to review and agree joint improvements relating to issues of interoperability, complementarity and the alignment of firefighting doctrine. The establishment of a unified command in joint State Operations Centre, Regional Operations Centre and Incident Management Teams should be pursued as an overarching goal. |
REC265-1116 | 17 - Assets and technology | Procedures should be established to monitor the use of heavy plant during a bushfire incident, including the tasking of support appliances. Procedures should provide for the appointment of a dedicated Machinery Supervisor as prescribed within the Australasian Interservice Incident Management System. |
REC265-1103 | 16 - Training and behaviour | DFES should review its training courses and Standard Operating Procedures to satisfy itself that all incident management personnel have the required level of understanding of WA emergency management arrangements, including those that relate to the roles of the Incident Management Team and Incident Support Group and the declaration of incident levels. |
REC265-1115 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Training and awareness raising should be conducted to enhance the appreciation and understanding of DFES State and Regional operational personnel, including potential Incident Management Team members, of the nationally adopted Bushfire Alert and Messaging Matrix, in order to ensure that the most appropriate alert levels and associated community messaging are applied during bushfire incidents. |
REC265-1112 | 17 - Assets and technology | Radio infrastructure in the Perth Hills should be reviewed to assess whether it is practicable for radio and/or mobile phone coverage to be improved to achieve better coverage across the area. |
REC265-1123 | 17 - Assets and technology | Every effort should be made to enhance the ability of communications personnel to cope with fast moving and time critical fire events by providing and maintaining: ongoing extensive communications training; advanced vehicle capability for clear communication within areas of radio coverage dead spots; ability to receive Air intelligence live streaming; map production facilities; deployment of multiple Incident Control Vehicles when required; all Incident Control Vehicles with access to DFES Information Technology Systems. |
REC265-1111 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | All agencies engaged in bushfire response should develop expeditious procedures for the mobilisation of resources in support of other agencies. See discussion in Section 7.1. |
REC265-1118 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Consideration should be given to an automatic ‘Advice’ notice being issued as soon as a fire is reported in a pre- determined high risk area such as the Darling Scarp on days when adverse fire weather conditions are forecast. |
REC265-1106 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | In addition to regular meetings of the DFES/DPaW Interagency Bushfire Management Committee, the two organisations should use joint exercises to identify agreed firefighting approaches for common or likely scenarios. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC254-1586 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Future coordination/support/control of integrated emergency management across all agencies in Albany needs to be merged and located in a single joint facility. This issue needs to be reviewed statewide. |
REC254-1583 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Once Recommendation 1 has been actioned, all agencies give greater priority to the promulgation of Red Flag warnings in order to enhance situational awareness on the fireground. |
REC254-1582 | 17 - Assets and technology | As a minimum requirement, all vehicles entering the fireground must be fitted with an accessible fire blanket – one per person in each vehicle plus roll down, in-cab, radiant heat shields. |
REC254-1581 | 16 - Training and behaviour | All agencies ensure fire managers are trained to correctly interpret the new Spot Fire Weather Forecast and to familiarise themselves with the entire format – ensuring consideration of the whole forecast - not just the tabular data containing the 12 hour forecast. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC226-0548 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Inter-agency cooperation to manage fire precincts in a tenure-blind fashion is necessary for effective fire suppression. |
REC226-0588 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Timely alerts and updates to the community are essential. |
REC226-0583 | 17 - Assets and technology | The state should converge on a single communications platform for all emergency management and support agencies. |
REC226-0582 | 17 - Assets and technology | The state should progressively align on a shared platform, such as WebEOC, to establish a COP [Common Operating Picture or Platform?]. |
REC226-0591 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Radio bulletins need to be up to date and time stamped. Where social media is used the messages need to be up to date and accurate. Websites need to be up to date and accurate. |
REC226-0578 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | There would be benefit in progressively aligning the geographic boundaries of each of the agencies and seeking to co-locate their headquarters within those boundaries. |
REC226-0590 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Expand the exploitation of social media, including graphical content for state alerts and warnings. Consider increasing the graphical content of web-based warnings. |
REC226-0560 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | There would be value in progressively aligning the geographical boundaries of emergency management agencies and co-locating where possible within regions and districts. |
REC226-0589 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The process for initiating and releasing State Alert messages requires review. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC225-0533 | 17 - Assets and technology | As a minimum requirement, all vehicles entering the fireground must be fitted with an accessible fire blanket – one per person in each vehicle plus roll down, in-cab, radiant heat shields. |
REC225-0532 | 16 - Training and behaviour | All agencies ensure fire managers are trained to correctly interpret the new Spot Fire Weather Forecast and to familiarise themselves with the entire format – ensuring consideration of the whole forecast - not just the tabular data containing the 12 hour forecast. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC210-0756 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | CS Energy and Seqwater should agree upon and adhere to a formal communication protocol that requires CS Energy personnel to advise Seqwater, through the Flood Operations Centre, of water movements between Splityard Creek Dam and Wivenhoe Dam or Pryde Creek once a flood event is declared under the Manual of Operational Procedures for Flood Mitigation at Wivenhoe Dam and Somerset Dam. The protocol should ensure that a direct line of communication is established between CS Energy personnel physically located at the power station and the Flood Operations Centre. |
REC210-0734 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Emergency Management Queensland should simplify the process by which SES members gain recognition for prior qualifications so that unnecessary duplication of training can be avoided. |
REC210-0681 | 19 - Offences | Councils and distributor-retailers should agree to protocols for the exchange of information about suspected illegal connections, the steps being taken to investigate them or the basis for concluding that no investigation is required, and the results of any investigations or enforcement actions. |
REC210-0775 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Department of Environment and Resource Management should conduct periodic dam safety information and education sessions with emergency management personnel including those from Emergency Management Queensland, local and district disaster management groups and local councils. Priority should be given to sessions if the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a wet season with a greater than 50 per cent chance of above median rainfall. |
REC210-0766 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Wide Bay Water should, in addition to its usual wet season preparations and maintenance, undertake the following activities in advance of each wet season: Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry | Final Report 29 Complete list of Final Report recommendations • conduct training for personnel on dam operation, including contingency plans for the situation in which one or more of the gates is inoperable • hold meetings of key personnel of Wide Bay Water involved in the operation of the dam during floods, which: – in addition to any other matters, inform staff about the current status of the gates, dam operation strategies and contingency plans for the situation in which one or more of the gates is inoperable – are recorded in minutes which document the information provided and are made available to all operational staff. |
REC210-0757 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The protocol should make provision for the use of telephone and/or radio where communication by email is not possible. Where necessary, CS Energy and Seqwater should make additional radio equipment available to relevant personnel. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC209-1669 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Conduct an information sharing and planning exercise between Bushfires NT and NTFRS to explore the current boundaries and the overlaps in the peri-urban areas between the NTFRS ERA and the Bushfires NT areas of responsibility for all major centres in the NT. |
REC209-1641 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Knowledge and skills in AIIMS and WebEOC and incident management are further developed through regular scenario planning and incident management simulation exercise. |
REC209-1658 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Continue the use of Warnings and Alerts, in various languages, and through multiple broadcast media, including Indigenous language versions to engage with all people as to the risks of bushfire. |
REC209-1652 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Increase the capacity and capability of the Alice Springs Regional Committee. |
REC209-1651 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Review the membership of the Bushfires Council, and the composition of Regional Committees to ensure that the Council and Committees have representational stakeholders. |
REC209-1676 | 19 - Offences | Increase the emphasis on the issuing of infringement notices to reinforce the responsibilities of landholder’s in the management of bushfires in the Territory. |
REC209-1650 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Secondment of expertise in fire management planning and fire control from other jurisdictions, in a training capacity, be investigated in preparation for the 2012 fire season. |
REC209-1671 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That Bushfires NT, NTFRS, DLP, Weeds Branch, Parks and Wildlife, the Natural Resources Management Board, Biodiversity staff and representatives of the Volunteer Fire Brigades get together, at least annually, to coordinate planning efforts for peri-urban areas. |
REC209-1648 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Recruitment strategies, be developed, including “growing their own”, that result in the appointment and retention of skilled people to the vacant Bushfires NT positions. The vacant senior position in Alice Springs should be immediately advertised as a permanent position at the appropriate level to attract skilled applicants. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC203-0304 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Further community education may be needed on how to interpret messages. |
REC203-0288 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The State Duty Officer from DEC and the State Duty Director, FES A need to confer whenever a Level 2 or 3 incident is declared to satisfy themselves that they have appropriate incident management structures and resources across the state are at an appropriate level of preparedness. |
REC203-0303 | 8 - Communications and warnings | A high level review of alerts, warnings and messaging is needed to match community expectations with what is practical and achievable. |
REC203-0287 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | On a regional basis there would be value in closer working relationship between DEC crews and VBFBs to build mutual trust and confidence. This could be done by opportunity engagement of VBFBs in DEC fire management or through exercises. |
REC203-0302 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Web sites need to be kept updated. |
REC203-0301 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Early in an incident, close and effective liaison needs to be established with local government agencies. |
REC203-0306 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Local emergency management committees and planning should identify modes of community contact |
REC203-0299 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The state should converge on a single communications platform for all emergency management and support agencies. |
REC203-0305 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The agencies need to develop techniques to ensure accuracy of information across all media. |
REC203-0298 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The state should progressively align on a shared platform, such as WebEO C , to establish a Common Operating Picture (COP). |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC173-0105 | 19 - Offences | That the Department of the Attorney General, in consultation with FESA and Western Australia Police (WAPOL), consider options for legislative amendments to extend criminal liability to all damage, injury or death directly caused by arson. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC172-0022 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The declaration of a potential Level 3 incident should be notified to FESA who can facilitate an early warning to CFCO’s in the Shire and surrounding LGA’s. |
REC172-0029 | 17 - Assets and technology | Provide a photocopier in the Mobile Communications Facility or the mobile equipment cache that is capable of large volume production of collated documents. |
REC172-0036 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Wherever possible the ISU should be co-located with Operations and Logistics Sections to ensure effective communications and the ICC in which they operate should be located in the affected community. |
REC172-0019 | 17 - Assets and technology | A centralised, regional, multi-agency resource coordination and tracking system/facility be established to accommodate and coordinate the movement of resources from all agencies within and between regions. |
REC172-0028 | 17 - Assets and technology | Ensure the S61 helicopter has all appropriate channels for water bombing operations throughout the State by including this requirement on a pre-deployment checklist. |
REC172-0034 | 8 - Communications and warnings | A centralised emergency services website should be established that the public can access for reliable and up to date information on any incident. The website must be capable of reliably servicing a very high traffic load and be easily updated by HMA’s. |
REC172-0015 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Provision of timely, accurate and regular information to the community via electronic media (radio and internet) is a recognised function of the Information Unit in liaison with the Traffic Operations Officer. The aim of this arrangement is to facilitate appropriate behaviour in the travelling public and local community concerning access limitations and disruptions to the fire ground and surrounding areas. |
REC172-0047 | 17 - Assets and technology | There is an established need to develop mobile accommodation and accommodation facility support solutions that allows an acceptable standard of accommodation to be provided to fire fighters in close proximity to the incident. |
REC172-0026 | 17 - Assets and technology | At large incidents a communications bus should be provided for the use by Air Ops and a designated work space should be provided for the Air Ops management group. |
REC172-0033 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Public meetings are to be encouraged for all Level 3 incidents that affect, or have the potential to affect communities. |
REC172-0041 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Media liaison personnel are needed to ‘ride’ shotgun’ on media personnel to facilitate them getting their stories without imposing on the effectiveness of operations. |
REC172-0025 | 17 - Assets and technology | Suppression resources should be ordered and mobilised as 2 truck Strike Teams with a STL and consistently deployed to the fire ground as a unit. |
REC172-0032 | 8 - Communications and warnings | A review of community messages, their construction and component parts, the process to activate them and the technology required to deliver the messages by digital and non-digital media should be undertaken. The desired outcome is to define standard messages, procedures, tools and technologies that can be utilised by all HMA’s in Western Australia. |
REC172-0040 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The information templates used by the ISU in developing public information boards need to be standardised and posted on the DEC Fire Management Services webpage to allow access and use by the ISU. A standard across government would add significantly to their acceptance and use by the public as a reliable source of information. |
REC172-0023 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Pre-season multi- agency refresher training for Ground Controllers should be undertaken each year. |
REC172-0031 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Pre-season refresher training to include an emphasis on check in/out procedures |
REC172-0037 | 8 - Communications and warnings | ABC Radio should be a participant in IMG and/or OAMG. LEMC and DEMC should plan for this involvement in Local and District Emergency Management Plans. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC019-4158 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That needs in the direction of a fire emergency service be met as far as practicable by the Bush Fires Board in its training programme and in the tactical organisation of existing brigades for use as reserves in districts other than their own. |
REC019-4153 | 17 - Assets and technology | No opportunity be lost by the Forests Department to improve the efficiency of their fire fighting gangs, radio and other equipment in the light of the latest practical and scientific developments. |
REC019-4144 | 16 - Training and behaviour | No opportunity be lost of encouraging the formation of bush fire brigades and the maintenance of enthusiasm and that the Bush Fires Board assist the brigades in any way possible to obtain adequate training and equipment. |
REC019-4139 | 19 - Offences | Local authorities prosecute in all cases of deliberate breaches of the provisions of the Bush Fires Act and thay failing this the Bush Fires Board take appropriate action to initiate such prosecutions. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC008-3984 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Commission recommends that the live parts of resistances should be fixed so that no unprotected combustible material is within 6ins of the frames or cases containing them or within 24ins measured vertically above. |
REC008-3990 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Commission recommends that more than one means of exit should be provided in every mine from every level of it to the surface; and that the miners should be kept informed where they are situated. |
REC008-3989 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Commission recommends that there be continuous supervision of every chamber in which electrical machinery is worked by currents of medium pressure. |
REC008-3987 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Commission recommends that systematic tests be made and recorded of apparatus and circuits as a precaution against fire and so that any gradual deterioration of the system may be detected. |
REC008-3986 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Commission recommends that every precaution be taken to keep water off electrical machinery. |
REC008-3985 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Commission recommends that conductors carrying currents at medium pressure should not be encased in wood in damp places. |