About the Royal Commission
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements was established on 20 February 2020 in response to the extreme bushfire season of 2019-20 which resulted in loss of life, property and wildlife and environmental destruction.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Bushfires Royal Commission’, the Commission examined coordination, preparedness for, response to and recovery from disasters as well as improving resilience and adapting to changing climatic conditions and mitigating the impact of natural disasters. The inquiry also considered the legal framework for Commonwealth involvement in responding to national emergencies.
The Letters Patent for the Royal Commission set out the terms of reference and formally appointed Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC (Retd), the Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC and Professor Andrew Macintosh as Royal Commissioners.
The Commission has drawn information from a variety of sources, including public submissions and hearings informing the Commission’s report and recommendations for mitigating and responding to, future natural disasters.
The Royal Commission delivered its final report to the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) on Wednesday 28 October 2020.
