Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I will inform my friend opposite of those who will be attending on 24 March. I have invited the Australian Institute of Criminology. I have invited the state and territory fire agencies. I have invited the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre. I have invited the state and territory police agencies and also the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council.

The focus of this expert forum is going to be on: developing a consistent and robust criminal sanctions regime applicable around Australia; reducing access to fuels and materials; preventative education; identifying areas at risk; and promoting community safety initiatives. To answer a question raised earlier, yes, of course the details of this detailed advice and these deliberations will be provided to the Victorian royal commission but, more than that, it will also be referred to the Australia Emergency Management Committee, which will be meeting on the following week on 31 March. Consistent with the federal government’s response to a coordinated all-hazards approach to natural disasters, the Rudd government is determined to have the strongest possible approach on prevention, deterrence and penalties.

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