Bushfires: Victorian review ‘not in conflict’ with Scott Morrison’s

Scott Morrison says a probe announced by the Victorian government into the state’s bushfires will not conflict with his planned royal commission.

A New Zealand air force helicopter crew conducts resupply missions in Victoria.

Scott Morrison says an independent investigation announced by the Andrews government into Victoria’s bushfires will not conflict with his planned federal royal commission, which will examine preparation and response to fires, resilience and adaptation at a ­national level.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday announced the terms of reference for Victoria’s inquiry, which will be led by Inspector General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce.

The NSW government has promised an inquiry into how land management in national parks may have affected the fire season in that state.

The Prime Minister said it had always been his understanding that states would undertake their own bushfire reviews.

“In Victoria there is actually a statutory requirement for one to be done in response to bushfires after Black Saturday, so that’s understood, and the same will happen in NSW,” he said.

“Any suggestion that these two are somehow in conflict is just completely false. The ambit and scope of what the federal government will look to pursue is to look at … the preparation and response to these terrible fire events as they’ve extended across many state borders; secondly, to look at the whole issue of resilience; and, thirdly, adaptation going forward in the recognition of longer, hotter, drier seasons.”

Mr Andrews announced his government would provide Mr Pearce with an extra $2.55m, some of which would be used to hire six staff, and require him to report on Victoria’s preparedness for the fire season and firefighting efforts by July 31 this year, and on relief and recovery efforts by June 30, 2021.

The Premier said Mr Pearce had 35 years’ experience in ­security, intelligence and emergency management, and was the “right person” for the job.

“He has the right skills. With the additional funding and the capability he’ll need for that dedicated focus, he’ll move around communities, he’ll speak to people who’ve been fire-affected, he’ll speak to all of our emergency services,” he said.

“We think that he can look at any and all matters, find the things that we can do better, but also confirm for us some of the other changes we’ve made over time, and just how effective they were in saving lives, saving property.”

Mr Andrews said he had discussed Mr Morrison’s plans for a bushfire royal commission with the Prime Minister at the weekend. “It is unclear to me — I am not making criticism — I don’t think it has been settled exactly what a federal inquiry will look at, but I have a commitment from the Prime Minister for further consultation and trying to work together as best we can on that,” he said.