The Royal Commission into National Disaster Arrangements has issued a dire warning - while last summer's bushfires were unprecedented, that is no longer the case, and communities must prepare.
The Royal Commission, which was created in response to the extreme 2019-20 fire season, released its interim report this week, detailed pressing issues expected to be addressed in the final report due next month.
The report said while Australia has had a "long history of natural disasters", weather and climate agencies had found that "changes to the climate are projected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Australia".
"Further warming over the next 20 years appears to be inevitable," the report stated.
"Floods and bushfires are expected to become more frequent and more intense."
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The report said all Australians, particularly those in high-risk areas, must take steps to prepare themselves and their families for natural disasters.
It said preparation, response, and recovery was a shared responsibility between individuals, private enterprise, not-for-profits and government. The idea of a National Cabinet for disasters, similar to that set up for COVID-19, was also floated.
The report said the bushfires had exposed challenges with resource sharing on a large scale and said due to the increased likeliness of more frequent and intense natural disasters, jurisdictions would be required to work together to coordinate strategic decision making and share resources.
Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils chair and Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent lauded the focus on collaboration, saying had been a priority in the Joint Organisation's disaster reslience efforts.
Cr Pynsent said Midcoast Council was the Joint Organisation member council that was most affected by the bushfires, and that the area's recovery was hampered by the slowness of different agencies.
"I think we always need to assess every disaster as to ways we can improve," he said. "It's about fine tuning and being better prepared."
Other issues mentioned in the report included improvements around evacuation planning and sheltering, research into effectiveness of hazard reduction burning under severe to catastrophic weather conditions, more support for volunteer firefighters and clarity around the Bushfire Warnings System.
