Chapter 4 - Warnings - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

Warnings
4.180 The second stage, the bushfire warning message, warns the community that a major bushfire is burning out
of control under high to extreme conditions and is a threat to public safety. A significant threat to life exists,
and the community needs to respond immediately to ensure their safety and survival. In South Australia,
a bushfire warning message is accompanied by use of SEWS. 230
4.181 Compared with the Victorian bushfire warnings, the South Australian regime involves less dense text, and
more explicit reference to a ‘threat to public safety’. Mr Lawson explained that the construction of the South
Australian messages takes into account the COAG recommendation of 2004. He said ‘we believe that it is
most important that the community understand what the risk is in as simple and as plain terms as possible’. 231
4.182 Professor Handmer was asked to consider the South Australian warning examples for comparison. He said
the South Australian examples were clear and straightforward and that the wording was ‘better practice’ in
how it describes the fire and locality. 232
The South Australian one is a bit more punchy. I often think a lot of CFA material is very sound but
perhaps it is directed more for people who like to read a lot of material — it is not a criticism; I like to
read a lot of material — whereas the South Australian one is minimalist and it would be seen, I think,
as good practice in warnings to try to just head in that direction that’s all. 233
4.183 When issued, CFS warning messages are displayed on the CFS website, broadcast on ABC Radio and
5AA (a commercial radio station) and sent to subscribers who opt in to receive CFS messages via email
and fax stream. 234
4.184 Mr Lawson explained that the CFS has an MOU with the ABC and the commercial radio station 5AA.
Those radio stations have undertaken to read on air a bushfire warning message immediately, regardless
of their programming commitments and to repeat it every 15 minutes thereafter. Each bushfire warning
message is preceded by SEWS. 235
4.185 South Australia implemented changes to its warning system very rapidly following the January 2005 fires.
The new system was in place by May 2005. Mr Lawson explained that ‘we had to do something prior to
the 2005–06 fire season’. 236 He indicated that it would be difficult for a new system to be introduced in
Victoria by October or November this year but that this should nonetheless be undertaken. 237
4.186 The State of Victoria’s submissions note that steps are ‘already being taken’ to ensure changes to
warnings will be implemented by next fire season. 238
4.187 Use of a two-part system of warnings, instead of the three used in Victoria, has appeal as a simpler approach
that is likely to be more easily understood by the public. The first level is essentially an information or alert
message of the existence of a fire, which does not necessarily require any action to be taken by the public,
other than to keep it under notice. The second level encourages urgent action, such as to activate a predetermined
fire plan. The level of threat can range from low to high depending upon the language used.
The Choosing Your Words publication provides a hierarchy of terms to match the assessed degree of risk,
urgency and need for action.
RECOMMENDATION 4.4
The State ensure bushfire warnings in Victoria are confined to two categories or stages:
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Bushfire Information — a message providing information to the community on a bushfire that is ‘going’
and has the potential to threaten public safety; and
Bushfire Warning — a warning to the community about any dangerous or extremely dangerous bushfire,
particularly one that is burning out of control and poses a threat to human life.
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