The Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) would like to provide a 4th update on progress of the independent Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian fire season.
Inquiry Phase 1 - Update
On 31 July 2020, Inspector-General Tony Pearce delivered his report to government on Phase 1 of the independent Inquiry.
The report - Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season: Phase 1 – Community and Sector Preparedness for and Response to the 2019–20 Fire Season - was tabled by leave in Parliament (External link) on 18 September 2020.
Government is now considering the report.
Under the provisions of the Emergency Management Act, arrangements for the release of the Inspector-General's Fire Season Inquiry reports are at the discretion of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
IGEM will make the Inquiry Report, the associated 'Review of 10 years of emergency management reform', together with government’s response, available from this website upon the approval of the minister.
Where permitted, IGEM has now published submissions received under Phase 1.
Inquiry Phase 2 - Relief and Recovery
Phase 2 of the Inquiry is underway and we encourage anyone affected by the fires to consider providing feedback on the relief and recovery aspects associated with the fires.
Over coming months, we’ll be offering a range of ways to participate and provide feedback. These will be promoted through local outlets and social media. You can share your views through:
- making an online submission (External link)
- taking the online survey (External link)
- requesting a hard copy or telephone survey by calling 0409 249 054
- emailing igem@igem.vic.gov.au (External link)
- mailing Inspector-General for Emergency Management, GPO Box 4356, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Phase 1 of the Inquiry for your willingness to provide your experiences, and we look forward to staying in touch over the coming months as we focus on Phase 2 – relief and recovery.
[Image: Janice Newnham]