The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements was established on 20 February 2020 in response to the extreme bushfire season of 2019-20, which resulted in loss of life, property and wildlife and environmental destruction.  

National leadership

As of 1 October 2022, we assumed a national leadership role. We coordinate, manage, track, and report on the progress of the Royal Commission recommendations. The establishment of the Royal Commission Implementation Time-limited Working Group further enables the Australian Government, in collaboration with states and territories, to implement and close off recommendations effectively.  

The Report

The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report was published in October 2020 and contained 80 recommendations, which were broken into Commonwealth and State or Territory responsibilities.  

Milestone achieved

On 14 December 2023, former Minister of Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, announced the completion of all 15 recommendations directed solely to the Australian Government. The implementation of these recommendations has significantly strengthened Australia's ability to support communities before, during, and after disasters.  

Reports overview

• The Report (October 2020): Published in October 2020, it contained 80 recommendations, categorized into Commonwealth and State or Territory responsibilities.
• Interim Report (20 October 2023): A collaborative effort with jurisdictions, this report provided an update on the progress of the Royal Commission's recommendations.
• Final Report (Early 2025): Anticipated to be published in Early 2025, this report will inform the Australian public about the steps taken by Australian, state, and territory governments to implement the Royal Commission recommendations. It will showcase various projects arising from these recommendations, emphasising community preparedness. The finalisation of these recommendations will leave communities better prepared for disasters than ever before.