This Quick Guide provides a short overview of the 2019–20 fire season and government responses to date, as Parliament resumes for 2020. It includes an overview of bushfire inquiries that have been conducted over the past two decades and highlights the considerable information collated by recent inquiries relating to two of the major issues linked with this fire season, prescribed burning and climate change.

The 2019–20 fires have occurred on an extensive national scale. The impacts suffered by Victoria are therefore considered here in relation to the national emergency. Some figures are presently only available at a national level.

A list of further reading material can be found at the end of this briefing paper.