The Royal Commission has begun hearing testimony as part of Hearing Block Five.  The Hearing block opened with Counsel Assisting introducing its findings into the causes of, and response to, the Kilmore East, Beechworth, Coleraine, Pomborneit and Horsham, Murrindindi, Redesdale, Bendigo, Churchill, Delburn, Bunyip, Narre Warren and Upper Ferntree Gully fires.  The State Government (on behalf of CFA, DSE, and Parks Victoria), Powercor and SP Ausnet disagreed with significant parts of Counsel Assisting’s findings and recommendations.

Hearing Block Five will continue to look at the causes and circumstances of deaths and also examine the issues of planning (including defendable space) and fuel management and roadside clearing. 

The Commission is running “Expert Conferences” to examine the issues of land use planning and land and fuel management. These conferences will be use a panel of experts to identify areas of agreement and areas of disagreement in relation to the particular issues.

Key Conference dates

• Land use planning conference (8-16 February)
• Land and fuel management conference (17-26 February)

The panel discussions of these conferences will be webcast through the Royal Commission website.

Importantly for AFAC, the Commission is set to re-examine the Stay or Go policy on the 27-28 of March.  It is believed Stay or Go will be examined in reference to the physical evidence from the February fires.  An opportunity to provide submission on the revisiting of Stay or Go evidence will occur in May. 

The Commission is expected to complete hearing evidence on May 26, with the final report due in July 2010.