A NSW cabinet minister has taken a swipe at her own Government's bushfire inquiry.
Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said the inquiry, announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian last week, should be held publicly.
Mrs Hancock said communities need to be able to express their concern about what happened in an open forum.
"We need to get to the bottom of these fires," Minister Hancock said.
"I don't think it should be behind closed doors."
Ms Hancock's electorate, the seat of the South Coast, has been devastated by the fires, with 89 homes destroyed in the small coastal community of Lake Conjola.
"Some of my community has expressed their concern about certain things that have taken place," she said.
"Those questions can be answered, and there are all sorts of allegations being made about why certain bushfires started when and how."
Labor pushes for public inquiry
Labor Party leader Jodi McKay said the inquiry could not be Sydney-centric and dependent on written submissions.
She said she will be pushing for it to be made public in parliament today.
"We know there are people living in tents and caravans who don't have access to a computer," she said.
"Why should we make this hard for them?
"A lot of people want to tell their story and talk about what was right or wrong on the day.
"We have to learn from this."
Communities want their say
Mayors in fire impacted communities say emotions are still raw, and that it is important for locals to feel that they are contributing by being able to express themselves.
Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Duncan Gair, whose constituents in the Southern Highlands lost a total of 45 homes, said it may not be appropriate to hold a completely public inquiry.
"I don't necessarily agree it has to be fully open," he said.
"There should be a time during this inquiry, whether it be a week or whatever, that people feel they contribute to the outcome for a better fire policy.
"It is affecting everyone."
Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley echoed similar sentiments.
"It needs to be a truth-telling opportunity," she said.
"We need to allow people to express their experience without fear, because not all people's experiences have been positive.
"Some people feel they have had different experiences with emergency services and local and State Government agencies."
The independent bushfire inquiry is due to start in a matter of days, and will run for six months.
It will review the causes, preparation and response to the 2019-'20 bushfires, but will take written submissions only.
