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 Summary of investigations into breaches of planned burn control lines (1 January to 30 June 2016) (External link) A summary of IGEM’s observations of investigations into breaches of control lines by planned burns conducted by DELWP during the period 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2016, that focuses on the observations and opportunities for continuous improvement. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Review of community recovery following the 2013–14 Victorian bushfires (External link) A system-wide review to identify opportunities to improve strategies for engaging with communities and supporting community recovery following a major emergency. The review found that early consideration of characteristics of different groups within communities is critical to ensuring recovery programs are coordinated and empower community action. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2016 Lancefield-Cobaw Fire - October 2015 Report of Community Observations and Response to Independent Investigation Auxiliary Report (External link) An independent investigation into the Lancefield planned burn and subsequent bushfire that escaped containment lines, it documents issues raised by community members and outlines treatment options for addressing gaps in performance or sustaining good practice with relevant organisations. Emergency Management Victoria
2016 Beyond Bushfires Final Report 2010–2016 (External link) A report based on an examination of the impacts from the 2009 bushfires on community mental health, wellbeing and social relationships. The study found that although there was progressive recovery over time, evidence suggested delayed impacts on individual mental health extended five years on from the fires. Academia
2016 Audit and Quality Assurance Framework for Bushfire Management (External link) A framework to facilitate the maintenance of standards, continuous improvement and the management of risks for bushfire management activities (prevention, preparedness, fuel management, response and recovery). The framework is structured around risk, governance, continuous improvement, audit, people and capabilities, process, tools and systems and community and stakeholder management. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
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 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 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry - Annual Report 2016 (External link) An assessment of the Victorian Government's progress of the recommendations from the 2014 and 2015–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reports, in line with the Victorian Government Implementation Plan and its 246 actions to address the recommendations and affirmations. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2017 Inquiry into Fire Season Preparedness (External link) A public inquiry into the preparation and planning undertaken for fire seasons focusing on the work of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and its agencies, including Parks Victoria.
This report considered causes of bushfire ignitions, fundamental principles of bushfire fuel management with a focus on planned burning, other bushfire mitigation measures with a focus on evacuation policies, the effect of climate change on the bushfire season and emergency management coordination arrangements with a focus on the concept of shared responsibility and relevant legislative frameworks.
Parliament of Victoria
2017 Implementation of recommendations from the Review of Performance Targets for Bushfire Fuel Management on Public Land – Annual Report 2016 (External link) An annual progress report of recommendations from the review of performance targets for bushfire fuel management on public land, this report found that the move from a hectare-based fuel reduction target to a risk-reduction target had been completed. Inspector-General for Emergency Management