The Inquiry was led by former New South Wales Police deputy commissioner Dave Owens and former New South Wales chief scientist Mary O’Kane. The New South Wales Bushfire Inquiry (Inquiry) noted that whilst a number of factors contributed to the fires, climate change “…clearly played a role in the conditions that lead up to the fires and in the unrelenting conditions that supported the fires to spread…”.

In total ,the bushfires burnt 5.5 million hectares across New South Wales, destroying 2476 homes. Close to 2000 individuals and organisations made submissions into the Inquiry. 

• Access the Final Report on the Inquiry (pdf)

The Inquiry’s recommendations are far-reaching and include urging the New South Wales Government to establish a world-class Bush Fire Technology Fund, provide support for training initiatives to ensure fire authorities have greater capacity for future fire seasons, and support the establishment of a national bushfire database to monitor trends in bushfire activity and impacts. The ABC and Sydney Morning Herald covered the story.