In my series on the Climate Change Emergency Preparedness Inquiry I’ve discussed past disaster inquiries. This post attempts to index all disaster related inquiries in Australia since 2000. See my newer post here for a list of inquiries prior to 2000.

For the purposes of this list I’ll define an inquiry as any investigation conducted or commissioned by an arm of state or federal government (ie. legislative, executive or judicial) into a specific disaster or a general disaster related topic. I won’t however list reports on disaster related bills or strategies (for example the National Disaster Resilience Strategy), reports that are not publicly available or those commissioned by NGOs, associations and the private sector. I’m including any inquiry that reported after 01/01/2000.

I find that there have been more than 200 disaster related inquiries since 2000. If you’re aware of anything I’ve missed please let me know in the comments.

Current Inquiries

• Federal, Parliamentary – Airport and Aviation security (report due May 2015)
• Federal, Parliamentary – The establishment of a national registration system for Australian paramedics to improve and ensure patient and community safety (report due June 2016)
• Federal, Agency – Review of the National Triple Zero (000) Operator (report expected March 2015)
• New South Wales, Parliamentary – Water Augmentation (report due 2017)
• New South Wales, Agency – Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Review (stage 2 underway)
• New South Wales, Audit – Bushfire risk reduction and response preparedness (audit in 2016/17 program)
• New South Wales, Audit – Bio-security risk management (audit in 2016/17 program)
• New South Wales, Coronial – Coronial Inquest into the flooding deaths at Dungog (expected 2015)
• New South Wales, Independent – Review of the Dams Safety Act 1978 and the Dams Safety Committee (review not yet complete)
• ACT, Agency – Review of the Emergencies Act 2004 (review initiated)
• Victoria, Independent – Victoria’s emergency management sector preparedness for major emergencies (programmed)
• Victoria, Independent – Connecting with and preparing communities for major emergencies in Victoria (programmed)
• Victoria, Parliamentary – Inquiry into the CFA Training College at Fiskville (report expected 2015)
• Queensland, Agency – The Review of the Building Act 1975 and building certification in Queensland (inquiry underway)
• South Australia, Parliamentary – Emergency Services Reform (inquiry established)
• Northern Territory, Agency – Review of the Bushfires Act (Final Report expected 2015)
• Western Australia, Coronial – Coroner’s inquest into the fatal bushfire at Albany (yet to be established)
• Western Australia, Coronial – Coroner’s inquest into fatalities at Fortescue construction camp in Cyclone George
• Western Australia, Agency – Report into the fatal bushfire at Albany (completed report will be released following the coronial inquiry)
• Western Australia, Agency – Review of the Emergency Services Acts (new legislation expected 2015)

Federal
New South Wales
Queensland
ACT
Victoria
Tasmania
South Australia
Northern Territory
Western Australia

Federal

COAG

(includes inquiries from Ministerial and Standing Councils and Intergovernmental working groups)

• 2002 – Natural Disasters in Australia: Reforming mitigation, relief and recovery arrangements
• 2005 – Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management
• 2005 – Review of Australia’s Ability to Respond to and Recover From Catastrophic Disasters (review was not originally publicly available but has since been released under FOI)
• 2009 – Recommendations on the Role of AEMO and the Effectiveness of Current Gas and Electricity Emergency Arrangements

Parliamentary

• 2003 – A Nation Charred: Inquiry into the Recent Australian Bushfires
• 2006 – Inquiry into Australia’s response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami
• 2008 – Inquiry into climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities
• 2008 – Inquiry into the Administration of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and related matters
• 2010 – Australian Horse Industry and an Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA)
• 2010 – Inquiry into Bushfires in Australia
• 2011 – The capacity of communication networks and emergency warning systems to deal with emergencies and natural disasters
• 2011 – The asset insurance arrangements of Australian state governments
• 2011 – Joint Select Committee on the Christmas Island Tragedy of 15 December 2010
• 2012 – Inquiry into the operation of the insurance industry during disaster events
• 2012 – Inquiry into biosecurity and quarantine arrangements
• 2013 – Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events
• 2013 – Aviation Accident Investigations (Pel-air)
• 2013 – Inquiry into health issues across international borders
• 2013 – Spectrum for public safety mobile broadband
• 2015 – Environmental Biosecurity
• 2015 – Stormwater Resources in Australia
• 2016 – Airport and Aviation security (report due May 2016)
• 2016 – The establishment of a national registration system for Australian paramedics to improve and ensure patient and community safety (report due June 2016)
• 2016 – Response to, and lessons learnt from, recent bushfires in remote Tasmanian wilderness (report due May 2016)

Royal Commission

• 2008 – Equine Influenza Inquiry

Independent

• 2000 – Australian Offshore Petroleum Safety Case Review
• 2003 -The National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority: Review of Implementation Activities
• 2005 – Tsunamis – Does anyone have to die?
• 2008 – National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority Operational Review
• 2008 – Quarantine and Biosecurity Review
• 2009 – Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulation – this inquiry produced two reports “Marine Issues” and “Better practice and the effectiveness of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority“
• 2010 – Montara Commission of Inquiry
• 2011 – Natural Disaster Insurance Review
• 2011 – National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority Operational Review
• 2011 – Review of the Bureau of Meteorology’s extreme weather and seasonal forecasting capacity
• 2012 – Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation
• 2014 – Aviation Safety Regulation Review
• 2014 – Commission of Inquiry into the fire at Marrangaroo Training Area
• 2014 – Productivity Commission Inquiry Into National Disaster Funding
• 2014 – Independent review of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s investigation methodologies and processes
• 2015 – Productivity Commission Inquiry into Public Safety Broadband

Agency

• 2000 – Consumer Understanding of Flood Insurance
• 2010 – Working Better Together: An NGO perspective on improving Australia’s coordination in disaster response
• 2013 – Inquiry to learn lessons from Warrnambool exchange fire
• 2014 – Review of the effectiveness of Category 1 and 2 Tropical Cyclone Warning update arrangements
• 2014 – Review of the National Triple Zero (000) Operator (report expected March 2015)

Audit

• 2000 – Commonwealth Emergency Management Arrangements
• 2003 – Pest and Disease Emergency Management Follow-on Audit
• 2003 – Business Continuity Management Follow-on Audit
• 2003 – Business Continuity Management and Emergency Management in Centrelink
• 2005 – Review of the Evaluation Methods and Continuous Improvement Processes for Australia’s National Counter-Terrorism Coordination Arrangements
• 2005 – Regulation of Commonwealth Radiation and Nuclear Activities
• 2007 – Australia’s Preparedness for a Human Influenza Pandemic
• 2008 – Emergency Management Australia
• 2009 – Business Continuity Management and Emergency Management in Centrelink
• 2010 – Emergency Management and Community Recovery Assistance in Centrelink
• 2013 – The Preparation and Delivery of the Natural Disaster Recovery Work Plans for Queensland and Victoria
• 2013 – The Australian Government Reconstruction Inspectorate’s Conduct of Value for Money Reviews of Flood Reconstruction Projects in Victoria
• 2013 – The Australian Government Reconstruction Inspectorate’s Conduct of Value for Money Reviews of Flood Reconstruction Projects in Queensland
• 2014 – Management of the National Medical Stockpile
• 2014 – Establishment and Administration of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
• 2014 – Regulation of Commonwealth Radiation and Nuclear Activities
• 2014 – Emergency Defence Assistance to the Civil Community 
• 2014 – Business Continuity Management
• 2015 – Administration of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements

New South Wales

Parliamentary

• 2000 – NSW Rural Fire Service
• 2001 – Oil Spills in Sydney Harbour (Inquiry)
• 2002 – Inquiry into the 2001/2002 Bushfires
• 2004 – Ambulance Service of NSW: Readiness to respond (Inquiry)
• 2004 – Fire Services Funding (Inquiry)
• 2006 – Inquiry into Managing Animal and Plant Diseases
• 2011 – Kooragang Island Orica chemical leak
• 2015 – Wambelong fire (Inquiry)
• 2017 – Water Augmentation (report due 2017)

Independent

• 2001 – Special Commission of Inquiry into the Glenbrook Rail Accident, Final Report
• 2005 – Special Commission of Inquiry into the Waterfall Rail Accident, Volume 1 & Volume 2. See progress reports on recommendations here.
• 2005 – Statutory Review of the Rural Fires Act 1997
• 2009 – Recovery Coordinator’s Report of the Mid North and Far North Coast Flood Recovery – May 2009
• 2013 – Independent Hazard Reduction Audit Panel
• 2015 – Review of the Dams Safety Act 1978 and the Dams Safety Committee (review not yet complete)

Coronial

• 2000 – Inquest into the deaths arising from the Thredbo landslide
• 2001 – Inquiry into the Fire at Mt Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park
• 2003 – Inquiry into the Circumstances of the Fire(s) in the Brindabella Range in January 2003
• 2010 – Inquest into the deaths of Alan Blinn, James Engert, Morgan Innes and Simone Moore (Sydney Harbour Ferry Collision)
• 2014 – Inquest into the Death of Michael Wilson
• 2014 – Inquest into the fire at Quakers Hill Nursing Home
• 2015 – Coronial Inquest into the Warrumbungle Bushfire
• 2015 – Coronial Inquest into the flooding deaths at Dungog (expected 2015)
• 2015 – Inquiry into the fires at Mt Victoria and Springwood (expected 2015)

Agency

• 2004 – NSW Taskforce on SARS (TSARS)
• 2009 – Review of Bushfire Arson Laws
• 2013 – Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Review (stage 2 underway)
• 2015 – Review of 10/50 vegetation clearing entitlement

Audit

• 2001 – Readiness to Respond – 2001 Reports (Inquiry into the Ambulance Service)
• 2001 – Follow up of Performance Audits: Police response to calls for assistance, The levying and collection of land tax, Coordination of bushfire fighting activities
• 2002 – Managing Animal Disease Emergencies
• 2003 – Implementing the Ovine Johne’s Disease Program – 2003 Reports
• 2005 – Coordination of State Rescue Services
• 2006 – Major Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Readiness to Respond
• 2014 – Fitness of Firefighters
• 2014 – Management of Volunteers
• 2015 – Security of Critical IT Infrastructure
• 2016 – Bushfire risk reduction and response preparedness (audit in 2016/17 program)
• 2016 – Bio-security risk management (audit in 2016/17 program)

Queensland

Parliamentary

• 2011 – Management of Rural Fire Services in Queensland

Independent

• 2000 – Building Fire Safety Taskforce (no copy of this report seems to be available online)
• 2007 – The Final Report of the Operation Recovery Task Force: Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry
• 2009 – Report on a Review of Disaster Management Legislation and Policy in Queensland
• 2012 – Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry
• 2013 – Police and Community Safety Review
• 2014 – Independent review of an incident involving Queensland Fire and Emergency Services employees
• 2015 – A Review of State Agency Integration at a Local and District Level
• 2015 – A Review of Cyclone Sheltering Arrangements
• 2015 – A Review of Local Government’s Emergency Warning Capability
• 2015 – A Review of Callide Creek Flood
• 2015 – Grantham Flood Commission of Inquiry
• 2015 – Review of Seqwater and SunWater Warnings Communications
• 2015 – Queensland Biosecurity Review
• 2016 – Joint Health Service Investigation – Ravenshoe Post-incident Review

Government

• 2013 – The Malone Review into the Rural Fire Service

Coronial

• 2006 – Palace Backpackers Hostel Fire
• 2007 – Inquest into the Lockhart River air crash
• 2012 – Inquest into the deaths caused by the South-East Queensland floods of January 2011
• 2014 – Inquest into the deaths in the Slacks Creek House Fire

Agency

• 2014 – The Review of the Building Act 1975 and building certification in Queensland (inquiry underway)

Audit

• 2004 – Audit of the Queensland Disaster Management System
• 2008 – Management of Rural Fire Services in Queensland
• 2011 – National Partnership Agreement for Natural Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery
• 2014 – Ambulance Service Performance
• 2014 – Bushfire Preparedness
• 2016 – Flood resilience of river catchments (due March 2016)

Australian Capital Territory

Parliamentary

• 2008 – ACT Fire and Emergency Services Arrangements
• 2015 – Review of Auditor-General’s Report No. 5 of 2013: Bushfire Preparedness

Independent

• 2003 – The Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 Bushfires
• 2003 – The Report of the Bushfire Recovery Taskforce

Coronial

• 2006 – The Canberra Firestorm: Inquests and Inquiry into Four Deaths and Four Fires between 8 and 18 January 2003 Volume 1 & Volume 2

Agency

• 2015 – Review of the Emergencies Act 2004 (review initiated)

Audit

• 2003 – Emergency Services
• 2009 – Delivery of Ambulance Services to the ACT Community
• 2013 – Bushfire Preparedness

Victoria

Parliamentary

• 2000 – Inquiry into the Control of Ovine Johne’s Disease in Victoria
• 2008 – Inquiry into the Impact of Public Land Management Practices on Bushfires in Victoria
• 2012 – Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure in Victoria
• 2014 – Inquiry into Marine Rescue Services in Victoria
• 2015 – Inquiry into the CFA Training College at Fiskville

Royal Commission

• 2010 – 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

Independent

• 2006 – Fire Season Debrief Outcomes Report 2005/06
• 2007 – Operational Review of Major Fires in Victoria 2006/07 – Ross Smith Report
• 2011 – The review of the 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response
• 2011 – Independent Inquiry into the effect of arrangements on Country Fire Authority Volunteers
• 2014 – Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry
• 2014 – 2013-14 Fire Season Compliance Report
• 2015 – Review of performance targets for bushfire fuel management on public land
• 2015 – Victoria’s emergency management sector preparedness for major emergencies (programmed)
• 2015 – Connecting with and preparing communities for major emergencies in Victoria (programmed)
• 2015 – Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry 2015-16
• 2015 – Review of the Fire Services
• 2015 – Lancefield-Cobaw fire investigation
• 2016 – Community recovery following the 2013–14 Victorian bushfires
• 2016 – Review of the initial response to the 2015 Wye River – Jamieson Track fire
• 2016 – Connecting and collaborating with the private sector and community organisations (programmed)
• 2016 – Fitness for duty (programmed)
• 2016 – Incident management teams – accreditation and rostering (programmed)

Coronial

• 2002 – Inquest into the Linton Wildfire
• 2011 – Inquest into the Wingeel Plains Fire
• 2013 – Kerang Train Crash Inquest
• 2015 – Murrindindi Fire Findings without inquest
• 2015 – Harrietville Fire Inquest – Katie Peters, Steven Kadar

Agency

(includes reports prepared by the Emergency Services Commissioner or commissioned by the Fire Services Commissioner in their statutory roles)

• 2003 – Inquiry into the 2002-2003 Victorian Bushfires
• 2005 – Examination of Prescribed Burning Practices (This report appears to have disappeared from the OESC website but is on the VBRC website)
• 2005 – Improving Emergency Response at Melbourne Airport
• 2008 – Marine Emergency Framework Review Final Report (This report has also disappeared from the OESC website, but the recommendations are on the Department of Transport website)
• 2008 – Review of the April 2008 Windstorm (This report is also not there anymore – I’ve linked the google cached version)
• 2008 – Westpoint Chemical Fire Community Report
• 2009 – Operational debrief report 2008/09 fire season
• 2011 – Review of the February 2011 Tostaree Fire
• 2011 – Towards a more disaster resilient and safer Victoria Green Paper: Options and Issues
• 2011 – TriTech Lubricants factory fire
• 2011 – 2011 Review of Community Bushfire Warnings
• 2011 – Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce
• 2012 – North East Victoria Flood Review
• 2012 – Gippsland Flood Event – Review of Flood Warnings and Information Systems
• 2012 – Fire at Yarra Valley Grammar School
• 2012 – Westmeadows Grassfire
• 2012 – Fire Management at Landfill Sites
• 2012 – Port of Portland Emergency
• 2012 – NuPlex Chemical Incident
• 2012 – 2011/12 Post Bushfire Season Review Report
• 2012 – Bushfire Risk Mitigation Review (ESV)
• 2013 – Report into the Harrietville Fire
• 2013 – 2012/13 Post-Season Operations Review
• 2013 – Loch Sport Operational Review
• 2013 – Kentbruck Fire Operational Review
• 2014 – Review of the ESTA Computer Aided Dispatch Disruptions May – August 2013
• 2014 – Mt Ray – Boundary Track Fire Review
• 2014 – Goongerah-Deddick Trail Fire Review
• 2014 – 2013/14 Post Season Operations Review
• 2015 – Responding to Morwell air monitoring equipment failure

Audit

• 2003 – Fire Prevention and Preparedness
• 2004 – Beating the Bugs: Protecting Victoria’s Economically Significant Crops from Pests and Diseases
  
• 2005 – Managing Stormwater Flooding Risks in Melbourne
• 2008 – Biosecurity Incidents: Planning and Risk Management for Livestock Diseases
• 2009 – Preparedness to Respond to Terrorism Incidents Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure
• 2010 – The Department of Human Services’ Role in Emergency Recovery
• 2010 – Business Continuity Management in Local Government
• 2013 – Management of Unplanned Leave in Emergency Services
• 2013 – Flood Relief and Recovery
• 2014 – Managing Emergency Service Volunteers
• 2014 – Recreational Maritime Safety
• 2014 – Emergency Response ICT Systems
• 2014 – Heatwave Management: Reducing the Risk to Public Health
• 2015 – Emergency Service Response Times
• 2015 – Biosecurity: Livestock

Tasmania

Parliamentary

• 2003 – Report on Ambulance Services in Tasmania
• 2016 – Inquiry into the State Fire Commission (report due February 2016)

Independent

• 2007 – Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Services External Review
• 2013 – Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry

Coronial

• 2009 – Beaconsfield Mine Disaster Coronial Inquest

Audit

• 2011 – Bushfire Management
• 2014 – Government Radio Communications
• 2015 – Bushfire Management Follow Up Audit

South Australia

Parliamentary

(The SA Parliament website, which is horrible to navigate, makes it impossible to link directly to the relevant inquiries. The best I can do is link to the committee page, you have to navigate from there.)

• 2005 – Eyre Peninsula Bushfire and Native Vegetation
• 2011 – Natural Resources Committee Bushfire Inquiry
• 2013 – Community Safety and Emergency Services in South Australia
• 2013 – Prescribed Burning Fire Management In The Mount Lofty Ranges Fact-Finding Visit 7 June 2013
• 2013 – Bushfire Preparedness of Properties in Bushfire Risk Areas
• 2015 – Emergency Services Reform (inquiry established)

Government

• 2007 – Ministerial Review of Bushfire Management in South Australia

Independent

• 2003 – Review of the Emergency Services Sector (Dawkins Review)
• 2008 – Review of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005
• 2013 – Review of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005

Coronial

• 2008 – Wangary Fires Inquest

Agency

• 2008 – Volunteer Administrative Workload Review

Northern Territory

Coronial

• 2010 – Ashmore Reef Boat Explosion – SEIV 36

Agency

• 2012 – Review of the Operations of Bushfires NT
• 2015 – Review of the Bushfires Act (Final Report expected 2015)

Western Australia

Parliamentary

• 2001 – Bellevue Hazardous Waste Fire Inquiry
• 2006 – Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation
• 2007 – Inquiry into Western Australia’s Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements
• 2011 – Examination of the State’s Preparedness for this Year’s Coming Fire Season
• 2012 – Inquiry into the State’s preparedness for this year’s fire season
• 2012 – The Toll of Trauma on Western Australian Emergency Staff and Volunteers

Independent

• 2010 – A Review of the Ability of the Department of Environment and Conservation Western Australia to Manage Major Fires
• 2011 – Perth Hills Bushfires 2011 Review
• 2012 – Special Inquiry into the November 2011 Margaret River Bushfire
• 2016 – Review into the Waroona Bushfire (submissions closed)

Coronial

• 2004 – Tenterden Fires Coronial Inquiry
• 2004 – Ocean Farm Fires Coronial Inquiry
• 2012 – Coroner’s inquest into SIEV 221 – Christmas Island
• 2013 – Coroner’s inquest into the fatal bushfire at Albany (yet to report)
• 2014 – Coroner’s inquest into fatalities at Fortescue construction camp in Cyclone George (yet to report)

Agency

• 2009 – Review of Western Australia’s Bushfire Preparedness
• 2009 – Bridgetown Complex Post Incident Analysis
• 2012 – Post Incident Analysis for Blackwood Fire 8
• 2012 – Post Incident Analysis for Blackwood Fire 11
• 2013 – Report into the fatal bushfire at Albany (completed report will be released following the coronial inquiry)
• 2014 – Review of the Emergency Services Acts (new legislation expected 2015)
• 2014 – Parkerville Stoneville Mt Helena Bushfire Review
• 2015 – SEMC Bushfires Review O’Sullivan and Lower Hotham
• 2016 – Major Incident Review of the Lower Hotham and O-Sullivan Fires
• 2016 – Major Incident Review of the Esperance District Fires

Audit

• 2004 – Responding to Major Bushfires
• 2009 – Coming Ready or Not: Preparing for Large-scale Emergencies
• 2012 – Second Public Sector Performance Report 2012
• 2013 – Delivering WA’s Ambulance Services
• 2013 – Managing the Impact of Plant and Animal Pests: A State-wide challenge
• 2016 – Business Continuity Management (planned audit)