Reaction to Vic mine fire inquiry

REACTION TO THE HAZELWOOD MINE FIRE INQUIRY REPORT:

* Board of inquiry:

- Fire was foreseeable

- Health impacts are key consideration

- GDF Suez didn't take as many precautions as could to mitigate and reduce risk, but whether that could have avoided fire taking hold is unknown

* Mine operator GDF Suez:

- Already undertaking vegetation removal program, work to enhance back-up power supply and training for personnel

* Victorian government:

- Acknowledges that elements of the response could have been implemented more effectively

- Fully supports recommendations, but in-principle support for call for rapid air quality monitoring

- Working to improve approach to mine regulation, criticised by inquiry

* Latrobe Valley residents:

- Disused parts of mine need to be properly rehabilitated; concrete timeline for remediation needed - Voices of the Valley president Wendy Farmer

- GDF Suez and government need to act quickly - Latrobe Valley Support Network president Simon Ellis

* Environmental groups:

- Fire prevention steps a strong starting point but no specific recommendations to accelerate mine rehabilitation as way of protecting communities from future fires - Environment Victoria safe climate campaign manager Dr Nicholas Aberle

- No particular measures to make the mine safe and avoid a repeat - Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber