Terms of reference announced for bushfire royal commission
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s royal commission into the nation’s horror bushfire season will focus on hazard reduction and climate change under guidelines handed to Governor-General David Hurley today.
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Hazard reduction is at the heart of the bushfire royal commission terms of reference, which are expected to go to the Governor-General on Thursday.
The Daily Telegraph understands the terms include examining how to achieve consistency and collaboration between the states in preparations for future fire seasons, including in areas of data collection.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said he wants an enhanced “national accountability framework for natural disaster risk management”.
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As well as reviewing and approving the terms, Governor-General David Hurley is expected to approve two additional commissioners to assist former Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, who will lead the inquiry.
It is believed the terms have been reworked to include changes requested by states, including NSW.
Climate change is understood to be specifically referred to, in the context of causing longer, hotter, drier summers. The commission will consider what resilience measures should be taken in response. Another key consideration is expected to be whether or not the federal government should be able to declare a “state of national emergency” during natural disasters.
The commission is likely to be asked to look into how such a power, if legislated, would interact with existing state and territory laws. The Daily Telegraph has previously revealed frustrations in Canberra over NSW’s supposed reluctance to ask for federal assistance.
It is understood recovery will be a major theme of the royal commission, including which level of government should be responsible for what.
The commissioners will be asked to report their findings by August 31, meaning hearings will need to start soon. The quick turnaround is necessary to ensure as many recommendations as possible can be acted on before the next fire season, including drafting and passing national emergency legislation, if it is suggested.
Some states have announced their own inquiries, with the NSW inquiry taking submissions until March 27.
Originally published as Terms of reference announced for bushfire royal commission
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