This report evaluates the relief and recovery efforts activated before, during and after the 2019–20 Victorian fire season. The Victorian Inspector-General for Emergency Management makes a series of observations and findings related to both relief and recovery, and proposes 15 recommendations to government.

This review focused on preparedness and response to the K’gari bushfire event. The review makes a number of recommendations to address opportunities for improvement related to enhancing the management and protection of world heritage and cultural values.

The Victorian emergency management sector has undergone significant reform in the 10 years since the 2009 Victorian bushfires. This review report makes eight observations, thirty-three findings, and five recommendations identifying good practice and opportunities for continuous improvement.

The use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic — allowing governments to restrict individual freedoms, suspend constitutional norms and bypass normal parliamentary scrutiny —prompted intense public debate across Australia. But how long can a state of emergency remain in place in jurisdictions around Australia?

The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements concluded that the Commonwealth Government has the power to, and should, play a greater role in relation to natural disasters on a national scale. This document outlines how the government intends to respond.

This report focuses on broader questions of national arrangements and responsibilities, in relation to all phases of natural disasters – before, during and after. This inquiry required the Commission to consider whether these existing arrangements are as effective as they can be in a future...

The 2017 Fire Services Statement articulated the Victorian government’s vision for the reform of the state’s fire and rescue services. This report outlines the government's commitment to the Fire Services Statement and a shared course of action.

As the devastating 2019–20 bushfire season showed, all Victorians are at risk from bushfires. This audit was conducted to examine if the responsible state agencies are effectively working together to reduce Victoria’s bushfire risk.

A new version of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework (AGCMF) has been released, which comes into effect from Monday 12 October 2020. The updates ensure that arrangements which set out the Australian Government’s response to emergencies and natural disasters are up to date in...

This paper argues that lockdowns and social distancing regulations introduced to manage the health concerns associated with COVID-19, have imposed significant social, economic and institutional costs, while being of debatable efficacy.