Bushfires royal commission begins amid coronavirus pandemic

Inquiry into Australia’s deadly bushfires starts amid virus pandemic in a bid to get answers before the next fire season.

Residents watch waterbombing of raging fires on New Year’s Eve at Lake Conjola in New South Wales. Picture: Supplied

The royal commission into Australia’s deadly 2019-20 bushfire season commenced with an online ceremonial proceeding on Thursday — despite the coronavirus pandemic — to ensure the government can receive its findings before the next fire season.

Chaired by retired defence force chief Mark Binskin, with assistance former federal court judge Annabelle Bennett and environmental lawyer Andrew Macintosh, the reading of the letters patent to mark the opening of the commission by secretary Anna Harmer outlined the issues the council will examine to ensure a repeat of the bushfire season, which killed 33 people and burnt more than 12 million hectares of land, does not happen again.

Ms Harmer said the royal commission will examine co-ordination, preparedness for, response to and recovery from disasters between the three levels of government, evaluate how to improve resilience to natural disasters within the context of “longer, hotter and drier seasons” caused by the changing climate.

The commission will also consider whether the federal government should be granted to declare a national state of emergency, and if so, how that will impact with state and territory emergency management schemes, and grant the Commonwealth “clearer action” to make executive decisions “including, but not limited to” the deployment of the Australian Defence Force for assistance.

‘We will listen, and learn from you’

Mrs Harmer also said the commission will make recommendations to the government on “Hazard reduction measures, wildlife management, land use planning” including “zoning, development approval, including building standards” and “any ways in which traditional land and fire management practices could improve Australia’s resilience.”

In his opening address, Mr Binskin said the fires have “had a profound impact on our nation and has deeply impacted the lives of so many Australians”, meaning it would “long linger in our national psyche.”

“On behalf of the commission I extend my deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones … we will listen, and we will learn from you,” he said.

Mr Binskin thanked volunteer firefighters, first responders, and members of the ADF for their help in fighting the fires, noting that their work and the qualities of community and mateship kept the impact of the disastrous fires from being much worse.

He also thanked members of the public who have come forward to give their submissions to the inquiry.

“We understand what we are asking of you is difficult,” he said.

“For some, relieving the bushfire experience will open unseen wounds.

“But the commission can not do its work without you.”

Six-month probe

Mr Binskin said the commission’s six-month time frame would meant that work would have to occur quickly and efficiently, and that it would incorporate the findings of any state-based inquiries into the bushfire season, noting that the purpose of the royal commission was not to “point the finger” at any individual, government or organisation, but to enhance collaboration between governments.

“We are here to identify ways in our government, at all levels, can learn from past experiences, adapt and improve and work together collaboratively,” he said, adding that the fires ““can, and most likely will happen again.”

“This is what all Australians expect, and rightly so.”

Pandemic limits

Senior counsel assisting Dominique Hogan-Doran said the work of the inquiry was hamstrung by the coronavirus pandemic, which will prevent her team from gathering in person at the commission in Canberra and members of the public from attending.

Coronavirus restrictions will also result in “fewer and shorter” hearings, Ms Hogan-Doran said.

However, Ms Hogan-Doran said that the commissioners had already travelled to many fire-affected communities and witnessed the destruction first-hand.

“This work enabled the commission to observe first hand the devastating effects of the recent bushfires and informed the lines for inquiry we will pursue,” she said, adding that the financial as well as the physical impacts of the fires have been severe.

As of the 28 of March over $600 million has been paid out in insurance claims and over 100 local government areas have been marked as impacted,” she said

Tallying up the costs of the fire season will take up the first part of the inquiry, Ms Hogan-Doran said, with public hearings and elaborations on how the governments can better share resources and adapt to the changing climate to begin in June.

The commission will then examine “a nationally consistent accountability and reporting framework” and define the “future role of the national bushfire recovery agency.”

The one-hour hearing ended with a video interview with Adam Weinert, a resident of the Adelaide Hills who lost his home in the Cudlee Creek fire in December.

Mr Weinert will make an appearance before the commission at a later date.

The six-month inquiry will deliver a final report by August 31.