BUSHFIRE ROYAL COMMISSION SET TO SHAKE UP NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Morrison appoints Bushfire Royal Commission to acquire national disaster response powers to manage climate change impacts on Australia

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a “Black Summer” Bushfire Royal Commission which will define a new constitutional role for the Federal Government in bushfire and disaster response, possibly a greater role in state laws on land management and hazard reduction, and that also acknowledges the threat of climate change to Australia’s living standards and economy.
The key areas that the Royal Commission will investigate over the next 6 months are:

Improving national disaster management coordination across all levels of government, including enshrining the role of the defence forces in domestic emergencies;
Improving Australia’s preparedness, resilience and response to a natural disasters, conceding that Australia faces longer, dryer summers that will test our way of life; and
A legal framework for the Commonwealth’s involvement in responding to national emergencies, for instance, there are no current powers to call a national disaster emergency in Australia.

Land Management, planning, zoning and hazard reduction to be examined

It will also examine ways in which Australia can achieve greater national accountability and co-ordination in:

• Land management, including hazard reduction measures;
• Wildlife management and species conservation, including biodiversity, habitat protection and restoration;
• Land-use planning, zoning and development approval (including building standards), urban safety, construction of public infrastructure, and the incorporation of natural disaster considerations; and
• Any ways in which traditional land and fire management practices of Indigenous Australians could improve Australia’s resilience to national disasters.

Climate Change risk specialist on Commission Bench

The Royal Commission, that is due to report back to the Federal Government by August 31, will be headed by retired Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin AC; Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC, a former Federal Court Judge and ANSTO Chair with wide experience in key science and medical organisations, and Professor Andrew McIntosh, a specialist in climate risk and impact management.

The Commission will run concurrently and co-operate with state bushfire inquiries running in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Morrison’s decision to proceed with Royal Commission in line with community sentiment

Morrison’s decision to proceed is in line with community sentiment tracked by Newgate Research in early February through an online survey of 1500 Australians.

The survey confirmed a strong desire for the Federal government to be actively involved in bushfire planning, management and response working closely alongside the states and local government. This was seen as a shared task – all three layers of government scored in the 90s on who should be involved in managing major bushfires. Respondents said federal attention should primarily be in logistics and helping coordinate resources.

Just over half (51%) supported a Royal Commission on the bushfires and 22% were opposed.

More broadly the survey found that most Australians believe the bushfires were primarily a result of drought and fuel loads and don’t directly blame climate change. However, there is a notable shift in concern about climate change and a desire for action, offset by ongoing concerns about cost of living issues.

When asked about what specific actions they’d like to see taken in response to the bushfire crisis, responses fell into three main areas – improving emergency response, climate change mitigation and recovery and adaptation. Actions with the most support were as follows:

Improving emergency response

• 86% Ensure the Defence Force (Army, Navy, Air Force) has a more defined and active role in disaster management
• 78% Purchase a national fleet of water bombing aircraft
• 76% Start paying volunteer fire fighters
• 73% New laws to give the Fed. Gov’t more responsibility for managing national disaster planning and response

Climate change mitigation

• 83% Provide more financial incentives for households to install solar and home batteries
• 79% Fast-track large-scale renewable generation and storage projects like Snowy 2.0
• 66% Commit to a zero net carbon dioxide emissions target by 2050

Recovery and adaptation

• 83% Develop a large-scale bush regeneration program
• 76% Build more dams
• 73% More investment in programs to help Australia adapt to a warmer, drier climate

The inquiry which will be able to call expert witnesses and potentially even the Prime Minister and the State Premiers is likely to set the scene for major policy changes in the way Australia manages any future adverse impacts of climate change.