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.

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Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2023 Understanding the Black Summer bushfires through research (External link) A summary of key research findings since the 2019-20 fire season to improve the capabilities of communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from future natural hazard emergencies. Findings from 23 projects cover different issues and knowledge gaps within four themes: fire predictive services, cultural land management, community-centred disaster risk reduction, bushfire data and reconstruction. Natural Hazards Research Australia
2023 Fire Services Implementation Monitor Annual Report 2021-22 (External link) An assessment of implementation progress of Victoria’s fire services reforms for the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, it reviews progress of the CFA and FRV in carrying out the Year Two to Five Fire Services Reform Implementation Plan Fire Services Implementation Monitor
2022 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry Implementation of recommendations and affirmations - Progress Report 2021 (External link) IGEM’s sixth report as sole monitor on the progress of the implementation of recommendations and affirmations from the 2014 and 2015–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reports, it summarises implementation progress to August 2021, of the eight government actions and one recommendation directed to the Latrobe Valley coal mine operators that were reported as in progress in IGEM’s Progress Report 2020. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2022 Fire to Flourish - Annual Report 2021 (External link) The first annual report on the Fire to Flourish program of bushfire recovery, disaster resilience and community development - a partnership with communities affected by the 2019/20 Australian bushfire season, to support communities to lead their own recovery, co-create foundations for long-term resilience and wellbeing, and disrupt cycles of entrenched disadvantage. Academia
2022 Major Event Review of the 2019–20 bushfires (External link) A review that assessed Victoria’s Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) in relation to the impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires. The review panel prepared a suite of 37 recommendations, identifying remedial actions for the Victorian and Australian governments to address the impacts of the bushfires on RFA regions. Independent
2022 Assurance of DELWP breaches of planned burn control lines - 2020-21 (External link) IGEM's sixth report on breaches of planned burn control lines, covering the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. It includes a summary of bushfire fuel management in Victoria, and provides a progress update on implementation of two, ongoing recommendations made in previous reports - assessing one as complete, and the other as in progress. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2021 Assurance of DELWP breaches of planned burn control lines - 2019-20 (External link) A report on observations and progress updates relating to DELWP’s planned burns that breach control lines, and a summary of implementation of ongoing recommendations related to planned burning. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2021 Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20 - Final Report (External link) The second and final report examines the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires on human health and welfare, and the recovery process including assistance provided and the appropriateness of recovery programs; insurance issues; aerial firefighting capability; and hazard mitigation for future events. The report makes 16 recommendations to ensure more coordinated, equitable and efficient recovery processes. Parliament of Australia
2021 Annual Report 2020-21 Year one: Setting the foundations (External link) A snapshot of key progress, issues and opportunities across the Fire Services Reform Year One Implementation Plan activities in the period 15 October 2020 to 30 June 2021, it identifies further areas for action or review. Fire Services Implementation Monitor
2021 Bushfires 2019–20 (External link) A short overview of the 2019–20 fire season and government responses to date. 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. Parliament of Victoria