South eastern Australia, including Victoria, is among the most bushfire-prone areas in the world.

Victoria’s high bushfire risk is due to a combination of factors including increasing population density in fire-prone areas.

Major bushfires can lead to loss of life and injury, damage to key state infrastructure such as electricity transmission lines, water supply assets and transport links.

Additionally, fast moving grass fires in metro/rural interface environments, structure fires in urban environments, and mine fires caused by fires in nearby bushland all pose their unique challenges and consequences.

Examples of significant bushfires and related fires include the 2009 Black Saturday fires, 2014 Hazelwood mine fire and more recently the 2019-20 fires which led to major reviews at state level and a Royal Commission at national level: Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season and Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements respectively.

All links in the table below will open in a new window.
Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2016 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry 2015-16 (External link) In 2014 the Victorian Government held the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry from February to September 2014. This inquiry was reopened on 26 May 2015 with a new Terms of Reference to examine a range of new issues including what measures are available to improve the health of the Latrobe Valley communities in relation to any health impacts identified by the Board as being associated with the Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire. Board of Inquiry into the Hazelwood Mine Fire
2016 Review of the initial response to the 2015 Wye River – Jamieson Track fire (External link) A review of learnings from the bushfires that burned for 34 days ignited by lightning strikes in the Barwon Otway area. Government and the EMC, in collaboration with the fire responder agencies, accepted all four recommendations on good practice and fostering continuous improvement. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Lancefield-Cobaw Fire - Interim Progress Report - February 2016 (External link) A progress report on the implementation of the 22 recommendations from the independent investigation into the Lancefield-Cobaw fire and 10 additional commitments that DELWP made to improve the delivery of the Bushfire Fuel Management Program. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Lancefield-Cobaw Fire - Progress Report - June 2016 (External link) The second report on DELWP’s implementation of recommendations and commitments in response to the Lancefield-Cobaw Fire, overall it found that DELWP had acted swiftly to respond to the Investigation findings and rebuild community trust. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 2013–14 Fire Season Compliance Report – 2016 Final Progress Update (External link) Final progress report on the implementation of identified actions from three 2013–14 fire season reports; these actions related to improvements to road traffic management, community involvement, initial attack and utilisation of resources, cross-border fire arrangements and other systemic issues. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Lancefield-Cobaw Fire - Progress Report - August 2016 (External link) The third and final report on DELWP’s implementation of recommendations and commitments in response to the Lancefield-Cobaw Fire. The 3 remaining recommendations were to be implemented as part of Safer Together, the government’s new approach to reducing the risk of bushfire in Victoria. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2015 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry Implementation Monitor – 2015 Annual Report (External link) A consolidated annual report by Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire Implementation Monitor and IGEM on government’s progress with implementation of recommendations and affirmations in the 2014 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry Report – Implementation and Monitoring Plan. The report found positive progress by the state and ENGIE. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2015 Review of Performance Targets for Bushfire Fuel Management on Public Land (External link) A review examining the appropriateness of a fixed hectare-based target for planned burning versus a risk reduction target. The review found that a risk reduction target would better encourage shared responsibility for the management of bushfire risk, integrate planning and investment, and provide a more adaptable approach for fuel management. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2015 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission – 2015 Progress Report (External link) The first progress report on the implementation of the recommendations from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, following the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Implementation Monitor’s 2014 final report. This report found that actions relating to a Powerline Bushfire Safety Program (PBSP) reduced the likelihood that Victoria’s electricity distribution system will be the cause of a catastrophic bushfire in the future. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2015 2013–14 Fire Season Compliance Report – 2015 Progress Update (External link) A progress update following the initial compliance report to Government in October 2014 on the implementation status of agreed actions and recommendations arising from three 2013-14 fire season reports. Inspector-General for Emergency Management