Government slammed over bushfire response

One year on from the release of the report of the Bushfire Royal Commission, the former commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW has accused the government of dropping the ball.

One year on from the release of the report of the Bushfire Royal Commission, the federal government has been accused of dragging its feet on implementing its recommendations.

Former Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said some of the Commission’s most urgent recommendations, like boosting firefighting capability, wildlife protection and community education still required urgent action.

“Those of us that hold hoses and are in the direct firing line of climate change impacts are still waiting for the government to show that it is taking the Royal Commission’s report seriously,” Mr Mullins said.

He also claimed the government had promised monthly updates on its progress in implementing the recommendations, but these had stopped in June.

The Bushfire Royal Commission sat between February and October 2020 and made more than 80 recommendations. More than half related to the federal government.

Recommendations included calls for common information platforms between federal, state and territory governments, and better understandings about the role the Australian Defence Force could play in future bushfire disasters.

Former Commissioner of NSW Fire and Rescue, Greg Mullins.

Senator Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Emergency Management. Picture: Supplied

The Commissioners also called for federal, state and territory governments to develop their national aerial firefighting capability with the addition of a large or very large air tanker.

Senator Bridget McKenzie, who inherited the emergency management portfolio in a July ministerial reshuffle, announced the addition of a large air tanker to the national fleet in September.

In October the government also announced up to $20 million in funding to implement the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, and $2 million for a public education campaign.

But despite these efforts, Mr Mullins, who founded the group Emergency Leaders for Climate Action and now sits on the Climate Council, said the government had “dropped the ball”.

“(The government) must also tackle the root causes of worsening bushfires and other extreme

weather, by committing to much stronger emissions reductions this decade while moving rapidly away from coal, oil and gas,” he said. “We can’t wait for another Black Summer to be on our doorstep before we act.”