‘Tough decision’ on council about restoring community confidence

The Western Australian Government’s “high-profile intervention” in the ongoing issues with the City of Perth is appropriate and necessary, says a local government expert.

8 March, 2018

Royal commission inquiry into flood crisis

By Angela Dorizas The unprecedented flood crisis in Queensland will be the subject of an independent commission of inquiry, Premier Anna Bligh has announced. With the powers of a Royal Commission, the Inquiry will seek submissions from the public, summon witnesses, compel the production of documents and issue search warrants. The Commission will make recommendations in […]

18 January, 2011

New course on building in bushfire prone areas

The University of Technology, Sydney, has developed a new training course on building in bushfire prone areas for the Victorian Government and Country Fire Authority. Launched last week in Melbourne, the five-day program aims to enhance skills for assessing bushfire attack levels and controlling development in high risk areas. Director of the UTS Centre for […]

2 November, 2010

SA to prioritise fire refuges in Commission reply

By Rob O'Brien The South Australian Government will make fire refuges a priority in its response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Black Saturday. In announcing support for 60 of the 67 recommendations made by the Commission, SA Minister for Emergency Services, Michael Wright, highlighted support for the provision of refuges ahead […]

10 August, 2010

Councils will need extra funding to address commission findings

By Rob O'Brien Councils responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Victorian Bushfires will need more state funding to make their communities safe, according to the peak local government body. According to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) councils will need $20 million a year to expand their current responsibilities to […]

5 August, 2010

Governments vow to learn bushfire lessons

  Image: Nillumbik Shire Council.   By Rob O'Brien The response to the Royal Commission’s final report into the 2009 Victorian bushfires has been swift, with other states vowing to learn the lessons of the disaster and the establishment of a national research institute into bushfires. The Premier, John Brumby, yesterday released the Victorian Government’s […]

3 August, 2010

ALRC recommends two-tier public inquiry system

By Angela Dorizas The Government should establish a second tier of public inquiry as an alternative to expensive Royal Commissions, Australia’s law reform agency has said. Following a review into Royal Commissions and other federal inquiries, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) tabled its report,

9 February, 2010

Black Saturday hearings suspended

By Angela Dorizas Victoria's Royal Commission into the February 7 bushfires has resumed just days away from the first anniversary of the disaster. The Black Saturday fires killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2000 homes. Royal Commission chairman Bernard Teague said the commission would only sit for three days this week and, as a mark of respect for those […]

1 February, 2010