The Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety has announced it is to review the responses by ACT emergency services agencies to the unprecedented 2019-20 bushfire season in the Territory.
The Committee said it was conducting the review so the Assembly and ACT community could have a discussion on responses during the last bushfire season prior to the 2020-21 season.
“These responses range from preparation, education and public communication, to actions by agencies at the height of the bushfires over summer 2019-20,” the Committee said.
“The Committee will canvass the matters arising in 2019-20 with the emergency services agencies,” it said.
“[The Committee] is also asking for community views on all factors relating to the ACT’s susceptibility to fire and how the impact of bushfire was and is to be mitigated.”
It said its review would look at planning and coordination of programs to combat all aspects of the 2019-20 bushfire season; things done well in preparation for and mitigating the effects of the 2019-20 bushfires; and how major events in 2019-20 bushfire season were dealt with as a natural disaster.
It said it planned to draw information from a variety of sources including experts; emergency services agencies; the Government and community; and members of the community who contributed to agency efforts as volunteers and bushfire season personnel.
The Committee said public submissions were now open until 1 July.
The Assembly’s 13-page guide on how to lodge a submission to the Committee can be accessed at this PS News link.
