The Victorian Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee is conducting an Inquiry into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria and will inquire into, consider and report, by 28 July 2026, on the following Terms of Reference:
- the preparation and planning by government, emergency services agencies and the community ahead of the fire season, including management of public and private land and roadsides;
- the causes and circumstances of the bushfires, including climate change and the adequacy of the Government’s climate policies and actions, forecasts, warnings and public education on bushfire threats;
- funding, equipment and appliances for the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Fire Rescue Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria, and recruitment and retention of CFA volunteers;
- the emergency responses to control and contain the fires, including adequacy of resources and communications;
- resilience of critical services and infrastructure such as electricity, water and telecommunications during and after the fires;
- the impact on the community, business and agriculture and efforts to aid in recovery;
- the impact on the environment, including native wildlife, and any measures to better protect native forests, including technology for early detection and firefighting in remote locations;
- the impacts of climate change on the natural environment, which has resulted in more frequent and intense bushfires occurring in Victoria;
- the prevalence and impact of misinformation leading into and during the fire season;
- the interjurisdictional support into and out of Victoria leading into and during the fire season, including interstate and international deployments, Commonwealth support and relief efforts; and
- lessons from and progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous inquiries, reports and Royal Commissions.
Animals are often caught up in disasters along and veterinarians have a critical role in disaster responses. The Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan provides the framework for responding to animal welfare emergency needs in Victoria. The plan includes details for animal welfare support services such as animal welfare assessment, veterinary treatment, and humane destruction, and also the role of the AVA.
Link: Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) supported veterinarians responding the 2026 summer bushfires in Victoria and this webpage provided information about response activities, the various supports available, and veterinary bushfire resources.
How to Get Involved:
Please consider the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and provide your feedback to AVA Senior Advocacy Officer, Liz Gemes at Liz.Gemes@ava.com.au by Wednesday 8 April 2026 to inform the AVA representations
Individual Submissions to the Review:
Veterinarians are also welcome to lodge their own individual and independent submissions to the Review, separate from the AVA submission. We continue to encourage members to contribute to AVA representations and provide individual feedback, as engaging in both processes strengthens the veterinary profession’s overall influence. If you wish to make an individual submission to the Inquiry you can do so here by Sunday 19 April 2026.
Use of AI in Consultation Feedback:
The AVA greatly values the veterinary expertise and real-world experience you bring to our consultations, as these insights are essential to ensuring our representations are accurate, credible and grounded in practical knowledge. While AI tools can be helpful, we’ve seen examples of incorrect references and misquotations. If you use AI when preparing your feedback, please verify the accuracy of the information and indicate that AI was used.