The legal powers and potential cultural impact of the 2009 Bushfire Royal Commission in Victoria
Files
(Published version)
Date
2009
Authors
McKay, J.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 2009; 24(2):3-4
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
The Australian Law Reform Commission considers that Royal Commissions exist when there are controversial matters that cannot be handled by a Court or by the political process. Often, as with the Bushfires 2009 Commission, there is a need to answer a series of questions and a formal process is required to gather evidence to answer such questions. The answers can lead to law reform and policy changes. The scope is extremely broad and the powers to compel information are also broad. The words suggest that a steep change in the organisations maybe possible. It is also a certainty that the Royal Commission will be an emotional time for the victims and their families and the broader community as the eye witness accounts of the events and the grief over lost family members, animals' livelihoods and cultural artefacts including homes becomes known. The question of why and how did this happen will resonate with grief and blame.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2009 Australian Emergency Management Institute (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
Access Condition Notes: Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.