Australia Launches Inquiry Into Devastating Bushfires
On Monday, May 25, the country kicked off the first round of hearings for a hefty investigation into the wildfires that tore through the east coast, claiming 33 lives, demolishing roughly 2,500 homes, and scorched an area larger than South Korea.
Experts point to a three‑year drought—part of the climate change drama—as the tinder that fed the flames, turning thousands of blazes into giant infernos that raged until February when the fire engines won the final battle.
Mark Binskin, chair of the inquiry, summed up the tragedy: “The loss of life, destruction of homes, the bleak stretch of burned lands, and the wounds to livestock and forests are pain‑staking and keep haunting the community as they rebuild.”
What the Royal Commission Will Pursue
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that a six‑month royal commission will scrutinize:
- How ready Australia was for another bushfire dragon.
- The rules that assign responsibility to emergency command centers.
- How our laws could better brace us for future wildfires.
Hearings Get Rolling
Describing the climate’s role in the disaster, the two‑week session in Canberra is already underway—though, being a “modern thing,” it’s happening electronically.
Witches’ brew? Not exactly. But it’s clear that our sun‑baked land is turning into a tinder box, and this inquiry could be the key to turning back the flames.
