Submission: Inquiry into lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20

ACTCOSS has made a submission to the federal inquiry into lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20. Although the ACT did not experience significant property damage during the bushfire season, in this submission ACTCOSS notes the significant mental health toll of the bushfires, as well as the significant impacts of the extreme, prolonged bushfire smoke that blanketed the ACT.

We call for the ACT to receive funding for supporting bushfire evacuees and funding for the secondary effects of the bushfires, namely bushfire smoke.

In planning for future season, we note the need for better distribution of personal protective equipment to frontline health and community sector workers and clients in health affected areas.