The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements has published its interim observations.
Commission Chair Mark Binskin said the national scope of the inquiry demanded broad consideration of matters across all levels of government, the private and not-for-profit sectors, communities, families and individuals.
"We are mindful that many Australians are still living with the effects and devastation caused by the 2019-20 bushfires.
"Australia has a long history of natural disasters extending also to floods, cyclones and storms.
"The Commission has delivered these preliminary observations to share our present perspectives as we approach the final stages of our inquiry.
"The interim observations relate to some of the issues to be addressed in the Commission's report, which will be presented to his Excellency, the Governor-General by 28 October 2020.
"Next week we will invite comment on a number of propositions developed by Counsel Assisting the Commission. These views will be considered along with the evidence presented during our final hearing block set down for the week commencing on 21 September 2020.
"The Royal Commission continues to analyse extensive evidence from more than 270 witnesses, over 50,000 pages of tendered documents and more than 1,700 public submissions.
"We thank those people, government agencies and non-government entities who have contributed to the work of this Commission to date."
The interim observations are available on the Royal Commission's website.
