National bushfire royal commission should consider climate change and prescribed burning, say SA leaders
Practical measures to keep Australians safe during hotter, drier summers will form the backbone of a national royal commission into the devastating bushfire season.
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- Former AFP chief Mick Keelty to review fire crisis in SA
- Long clean-up on Kangaroo Island distresses residents
The need for prescribed burning and the effect of climate change must be examined in a royal commission into Australia’s devastating bushfire season, SA leaders say.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday released details of the inquiry, which will have a key focus on hazard reduction and how to keep Australians safe in a hotter, drier climate.
It also will examine Australia’s preparedness, response and recovery from natural disasters.
The commissioners, led by former Defence Force chief Mark Binskin, are asked to keep in mind land management and hazard-reduction, wildlife management and planning and development approvals.
But Mr Morrison has also explicitly acknowledged the role of climate change, and appointed ANU climate risk and environmental law professor Andrew Macintosh as one of the commissioners.
South Australian leaders will share their experiences of the Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island blazes that burnt more than 230,000ha combined and claimed three lives.
Labor MP Leon Bignell, whose electorate of Mawson takes in all of Kangaroo Island, which lost 89 homes in the bushfire, said he would highlight the need for better recovery efforts. “There’s a whole lot of things that could be done differently or perhaps better than what they have during the recovery on KI,” Mr Bignell said.
“Any chance we can give feedback around that I think is really important.”
Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly, pictured, welcomed the inquiry but said any recommendations must be acted upon and not just sit there “gathering dust”.
“No action is no option,” he said. “They’ve got to do far more prescribed burning.”
Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie, who represents the Adelaide Hills, said the inquiry must investigate SA’s aerial firefighting capability and examine the bushfire recovery grant take-up in each community, as well as telecommunication challenges.
Premier Steven Marshall said the royal commission would complement the state’s own review being led by former AFP commissioner Mick Keelty.
“There is still a long road ahead in terms of recovery but it is vital we take what we can from the trauma we have already lived through and apply any learnings ahead of the next bushfire season,” Mr Marshall said. The commission has been asked to finish by the end of August.