'What was unprecedented is now our future': Royal Commission bushfire report released
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements has handed down its recommendations following one of the most devastating bushfire seasons in history.
The key recommendations call for better coordination between all levels of government and the Commonwealth be given greater powers to declare a state of emergency.
The report also recommends an urgent overhaul of fire warning systems, and calls for nationwide emergency warning app.
December 5: Firefighters work to put out fires at the edge of the NSW North Black Range bushfire Dion Georgopoulos/Sydney Morning Herald
During the 2019-2020 season, 24 million hectares of land was burnt, 3000 homes destroyed, and three billion animals were killed or displaced.
Thirty-three people died, including six Australian firefighters and three American aerial firefighters killed when their aircraft crashed in January of this year.
Evidence from more than 270 witnesses, 80,000 pages of tendered documents, and 1750 public submissions has been compiled into a 579-page report.
The report contains 80 recommendations, which focus on moving towards a more national approach to bushfires and other natural disasters and extreme weather events.
December 5: ACT Rural Fire Service and ACT Parks and Conservation during backburning as they respond to the North Black Range Bushfire northwest of Braidwood, NSW. Alex Ellinghausen/Sydney Morning Herald
The report recommends a national aerial firefighting capability be established and calls for greater cooperation with First Nations and Aboriginal people with years of knowledge of the land.
Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said today the government accepts all 80 recommendations.
"The government intends to work collaboratively with the states," Mr Littleproud said.
"In terms of the federal recommendations there is nothing there that the Federal Government is concerned about. I think they are very pragmatic recommendations and ones that we will continue to proceed."
December 5: Embers rain down on a firefighter at a NSW bushfire. Nick Moir/Sydney Morning Herald
Mr Littleproud also said the government would accept a recommendation for a single relief and recovery agency.
"That is when it comes to natural disasters, we have a drought and flood recovery agency and also the national bushfire recovery agency was set up in response to this bushfire. We will take that recommendation," he said.
The way charity donations are passed on to victims of natural disasters will also be overhauled.
"I think we need to get back to first principles when it comes to charities. If a punter wants to give $500 to a disaster victim, they expect that $500 to go to them minus some admin costs," Mr Littleproud said.
"We need to make sure there is clear transparency in the charity sector in achieving data and giving confidence to our community."
In his foreword, Commission Chair Mark Binskin wrote: "what was unprecedented is now our future".
"Australia wide, there was significant community loss, devastation of wildlife and adverse health impacts.
"These losses were exacerbated by severe hailstorms, and floods in some areas that were just starting to recover from the fires. Then COVID-19 hit.
"Recovery will take years."
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