Chapter 4 - Warnings - 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

Warnings
4.199 The South Australian CFS uses SEWS whenever lives are at threat or when a fire is burning out of control
on a very high to extreme fire danger day. 252 SEWS precedes each bushfire warning message. Mr Lawson
explained that an education program was implemented prior to the re-introduction of SEWS. He was asked
whether, since the changes to the warning system were introduced in May 2005, the CFS had received
feedback about the use of SEWS, including any suggestions of irritation, confusion or panic. Mr Lawson
indicated the following:
We have received feedback from very small numbers of communities saying that it raises their level of
awareness unduly, that we have used the signal when the fire didn’t pose the threat that they believed
it should have as a result of using the warning, but we continued to use the SEWS warning. 253
4.200
When asked why the CFS continues to use the warning in the face of such criticism, Mr Lawson stated
the following:
We take that view that we have made that decision to use the SEWS, and until we have strong evidence
to the contrary that suggests it does in fact provide confusion to the community, then we will continue to
use the SEWS. 254
4.201 Professor Handmer suggests that SEWS can be useful: ‘warnings to me operate in a competitive
environment often with everything else people are doing or listening to, and there is often, not always,
but often needs to be some way of cutting through all the haze and the idea of SEWS is to do that’. 255
Mr Esplin said that he would prefer SEWS to remain available as a tool for the control agencies to use
‘if they believe it will materially assist the delivery of messaging to the community’. 256
4.202 The State and the ABC expressed concerns during the hearing that the introduction of a protocol for the use
of SEWS may lead to irritation or confusion in the community. 257 However, it has been possible to overcome
these issues in South Australia, as Mr Lawson outlined, by disaggregating the broadcasting network and
issuing warning and information messages to specific communities through the regional radio system. 258
4.203 The concerns expressed about the use of SEWS may be addressed by various means, including adopting
a sensible approach to a new protocol for its use. This could include:
■■
■■
grouping bushfire warnings that require the use of SEWS
reducing the length of time SEWS is played when used multiple times
■■ disaggregating ABC broadcasts on occasions when multiple fires are threatening different parts
of the State
■■ arrangements concerning the number of times particular warnings are repeated.
4.204 Professor Handmer indicated that, in his view, SEWS could be introduced to the Victorian community
before the next fire season. 259
4.205 In light of this discussion, it appears likely that a reintroduction of SEWS, accompanied by appropriate
education, could indeed be achieved prior to the next fire season. Of course, its reintroduction must be
accompanied by education on its purpose. 260 Further, any concerns about the effects of overuse of SEWS
could be addressed by the ABC, CFA and DSE implementing a protocol for a streamlined process for the
use of SEWS on ABC Radio and television.
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