Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 2 report | Inspector-General for Emergency Management Victoria

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

On 14 January 2020 the Victorian Government announced an independent Inquiry into the 2019-2020 Victorian fire season (the Inquiry) would be conducted by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM).

The Inquiry was conducted in two phases and concluded on 30 July 2021.

Phase 1 considers preparedness for and response to fires in large parts of Victoria's North East, Gippsland, and Alpine regions.
Phase 2 considers the progress and effectiveness of Victoria’s immediate relief and recovery arrangements.

Phase 2 Inquiry report

On 30 July 2021, Inspector-General Tony Pearce delivered his Phase 2 Inquiry Report to government.

The report - Inquiry into the 2019–20 Victorian Fire Season – Phase 2 – Progress and effectiveness of Victoria’s immediate relief and recovery arrangements - was tabled by leave in Parliament on 14 October 2021.

The Phase 2 Inquiry report (484 pages) is available from the links at the bottom of this page in these formats:

Full report (low resolution format)
Report - Preface to Chapter 11 (accessible format)
Report - Chapter 12 - 24 (accessible format)

You can also view as a flipbook (External link).

Alternatively, you can read the Fire Season Inquiry - Phase 2 Summary Report comprising the Inspector-General’s message, executive summary, a listing of all findings, observations and recommendations, and community reflections on relief and on recovery.

Delivery of this second and final report concludes the Inspector-General’s independent Inquiry.

Government response

On 14 October 2021 the Victorian government responded to IGEM’s Phase 2 Inquiry Report, accepting all 15 recommendations.

IGEM will monitor and report on implementation of the Phase 2 recommendations, consistent with its monitoring of the Inquiry’s Phase 1 recommendations.

Through IGEM’s reports and related reviews and inquiries, the Victorian Government has committed to a program of reform to Victoria’s emergency management sector that will strengthen resilience before, during and after emergencies.

Read the government response from emv.vic.gov.au (External link)

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