INQ104

TitleLong
Inquiry into the 2002-2003 Victorian Bushfires
INQAuthor
B. Esplin et al.
Year
InquiryType
DisasterType
State
Status

Recommendations for this Inquiry

INQ-ref REC-UID CODE SubCode SrcNUM Recommendation
INQ104 REC104-2209 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.75

That CFA, in conjunction with isolated small communities, develop and promote a suite of appropriate fire readiness and fire management strategies to meet their needs.

INQ104 REC104-2210 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.76

That CFA reports to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on recommended solutions and implementation strategies for isolated small communities by June 2004. 

INQ104 REC104-2211 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.77

That CFA clarifies and restates the roles and function of existing Community Fireguard Groups (including their relationship to the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan) to members, co-ordinators, Incident Controllers and Municipal Emergency Resource Officers, prior to the 2003-2004 fire season.

INQ104 REC104-2212 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.78

That Community Fireguard Group co-ordinators’ names are supplied to their local municipality for the 2003-2004 fire season, and are updated annually for use in information exchange should a Municipal Emergency Co-ordination Centre or Incident Control Centre be established.

INQ104 REC104-2213 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.79

That CFA provides technical advice to Community Fireguard Groups in the selection and purchase of appropriate equipment and protective clothing for use on their own land.

INQ104 REC104-2214 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.80

That CFA, recognising the value of the Community Fireguard Group program, undertake a review by June 2004 to identify opportunities to further develop the program to ensure its continuing appropriateness in preparing communities for fire into the future.

INQ104 REC104-2204 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.53

That the three fire agencies (CFA, DSE and MFESB) develop and implement a joint Statewide fire awareness education and information program aimed at encouraging a higher degree of personal and household self-reliance.

INQ104 REC104-2268 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 20.12

That CFA and DSE include agreed Fire Control Priorities in community awareness and education material provided to the community before each fire season. 

INQ104 REC104-2205 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.54

That CFA should remain the lead agency in delivering the community education and information program to rural Victoria.

INQ104 REC104-2206 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.55

That CFA and MFESB:
• Conduct an annual survey of households to test the level of awareness and acceptance of fire knowledge amongst Victorians; and
• Regularly measure whether access to information leads to safe behaviours.

INQ104 REC104-2207 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.56

That the Coordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management directs that all emergency management agencies review, by June 2004, terminology and language in current communication and public education material to ensure it is clear, easily understood and consistent, particularly with regard to fire.

INQ104 REC104-2208 A - Responsibility 9 - Community education 13.57

That CFA and MFESB encourage householders to review their fire safety plan annually. 

INQ104 REC104-2222 A - Responsibility 22 - Role of local Gvt 14.58

That Municipal Councils:
• Ensure consistent approaches to planning for fire prevention and protection; and
• Consider existing rights of neighbours in planning development applications.

INQ104 REC104-2304 A - Responsibility 22 - Role of local Gvt 24.29

That Municipal Emergency Resource Officers develop registers of volunteers willing and available to provide assistance and support during the response to, and recovery from, emergency incidents.

INQ104 REC104-2225 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 14.93

That the Victoria Emergency Management Council establish a sub-committee by June 2004 to ensure an all-agency and appropriate industries’ policy framework is developed and agreed in respect to the planning for fire prevention, mitigation and suppression.

INQ104 REC104-2321 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 25.55

That Government confirms that the Model of Fire Cover/Fire Safety Victoria strategy should be a seamless model for the whole of the State and include both private and public land.

INQ104 REC104-2230 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 15.12

That DSE investigates whether such agreements should exist with other government Departments and agencies, particularly those with officers located in rural Victoria who may be involved in fire response and support operations in the future, based on their expertise and experience.

INQ104 REC104-2247 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 17.51

That an appropriately resourced, national aerial firefighting strategy is urgently required, and that the Victorian Government make representations to the Commonwealth to support the Australasian Fire Authorities Council recommendations

INQ104 REC104-2232 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 15.23

That Government in the development of its statewide water policy includes appropriate consideration of access to water for firefighting.

INQ104 REC104-2315 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 24.77

That the Privacy Commissioner be asked for advice in the development of this model.

INQ104 REC104-2331 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 26.54

That a State Emergency Operations Centre be established to replace the existing separate fire agency centres. This could, if necessary, be initially confined to being a State Fire Operations Centre as recommended in Chapter 18, Part D.

INQ104 REC104-2254 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 18.42

That a single state-of-the-art all hazards State Emergency Operations Centre be established for Victoria. This could, if necessary, be implemented in stages, initially incorporating DSE, CFA, MFESB and the State Aircraft Unit.

INQ104 REC104-2239 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 15.77

That any local level agreements developed to address geographically specific risks or issues must be consistent with State-level arrangements.

INQ104 REC104-2255 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 18.43

That the options of collocating the State Emergency Response Coordination Centre with the new State Emergency Operations Centre
be explored.

INQ104 REC104-2303 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 23.34

That Interstate Agreements prepared by the fire agencies be reviewed to include protocols for the joint release of consistent and appropriate information relating to fires burning across State borders.

INQ104 REC104-2192 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 8.25

That, according to available scientific evidence, a decision regarding cattle grazing in the High Country should not be based on the argument that ‘grazing prevents blazing.’

INQ104 REC104-2256 A - Responsibility 24 - Govt responsibility 18.44

That the State Emergency Operations Centre develop and maintain strong and close links with the State Emergency Response Coordination Centre, if collocation is not possible.

INQ104 REC104-2228 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 14.96

That the Government identifies an appropriate body, or bodies, to undertake the audit of the Municipal Fire Management Plans.

INQ104 REC104-2292 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 22.63

That a systematic performance audit of State Aircraft Fleet contractors be conducted jointly by agency and SAU personnel.

INQ104 REC104-2197 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 10.65

That a review of the fuel management zones be implemented with a view to reducing the number of zones so as to focus clearly on (i) asset protection (especially at the Public/Private land interface), and (ii) ecological burns.

INQ104 REC104-2277 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 20.54

That DSE and CFA review methods of gathering and processing fire information to ensure all methods are pursued to greatest effect.

INQ104 REC104-2293 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 22.64

That aviation contractors be required to submit a copy of their annual independent regulatory compliance audit prepared for Civil Aviation Safety Authority to the State Aircraft Unit.

INQ104 REC104-2281 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 20.71

That DSE and CFA work cooperatively to review the management and application of bulldozers in fire suppression operations to ensure that they are used effectively, appropriately and are adequately supervised.

INQ104 REC104-2282 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 20.72

That quality control or performance assessments are routinely completed post fire season, to ensure that contractors who have not performed to an agreed standard are not re-engaged for the consequential rehabilitation works.

INQ104 REC104-2284 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 21.14

That DSE and CFA review the management of personnel deployed ensuring that:
• Shift changeovers of fire line personnel and fire line supervisors are conducted in such a way that the fire line is not left inappropriately unattended;

INQ104 REC104-2332 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 26.55

That the Review of emergency operations centres by the Departments of Premier and Cabinet and Treasury and Finance and the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner:
• Explore opportunities to significantly reduce the number of regional emergency operations centres; and

INQ104 REC104-2333 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review 26.56

That in doing so, this Review must consult with the agencies mentioned above, and others such as VICSES and the Departments of Human Services and Primary Industries.

INQ104 REC104-2291 A - Responsibility 28 - Personal responsibility 22.62

That after each fire season, measures of the effectiveness of aerial firefighting be collated, analysed and used for the assessment of the State Aircraft Fleet composition and the adequacy of Training and Accreditation programs.

INQ104 REC104-2221 A - Responsibility 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry 14.57

That CFA and the Plantation Industry jointly develop and agree on Fire Prevention Guidelines for Plantations by June 2004, to be then promoted and distributed by the Industry.

INQ104 REC104-2223 B - Preparedness 10 - Infrastructure 14.91

That Government review legislation for utilities operating within the State to ensure their involvement in regional fire preparedness and mitigation planning.

INQ104 REC104-2220 C - Response 2 - Emergency powers 14.47

That CFA should not be given the power to direct Forest Industry Brigades to engage in fire prevention and suppression activities off their land and that decision should remain the responsibility of the plantation company.

INQ104 REC104-2274 C - Response 7 - Inter-agency communication 20.38

That when Incident Management Teams implement significant changes to objectives and strategies, these are effectively communicated to firefighters, fire ground supervisors and affected communities, and are incorporated into the broader organisational planning. 

INQ104 REC104-2215 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 13.93

That the Coordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management directs the Media sub-committee of the State Emergency Response Committee to review the use of the Standard Emergency Warning Signal and its accompanying message.

INQ104 REC104-2216 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 13.97

That Victoria include an agenda item for both the National Emergency Management Committee and the National Meeting of Emergency Services Ministers recommending that the Australian Communications Authority review both the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice and Guidelines, and Community Broadcastin

INQ104 REC104-2296 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 23.21

That in relation to the provision of information to communities affected by fires and other emergencies, DSE and CFA ensure that:

INQ104 REC104-2297 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 23.22

That the model of community engagement developed by DSE and CFA and applied during the 2002-2003 fires is further developed and refined, particularly in regard to short-duration, rapidly escalating incidents.

INQ104 REC104-2298 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 23.23

That relevant Government agencies including Emergency Communications Victoria, the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications and the Victoria Police Media Unit, evaluate the proposals put forward by the Australian Communications Authority with respect to the hearing impaired. 

INQ104 REC104-2299 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 23.30

That consideration be given to formalising Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio as the official emergency radio station for Victoria, given it is the only radio station that can cover the whole of the State.

INQ104 REC104-2300 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 23.31

That Victoria Police Media Unit coordinate work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the emergency service agencies to implement this arrangement.

INQ104 REC104-2301 C - Response 8 - Communications and warnings 23.32

That CFA and DSE work with Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio to identify black spots, and explore opportunities to further improve coverage for broadcasting emergency information.