UPDATE: As the deadline approaches for compensation claims related to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, serious concerns have emerged regarding the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and its transparency. Recent parliamentary responses reveal that the RFS has settled 13 compensation claims for fires linked to the devastating events, yet refuses to disclose details, citing confidentiality agreements.
The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. Residents of Hawkesbury, where fires ravaged the landscape, are left with unanswered questions as they face a looming six-year deadline to lodge claims. The RFS’s silence over whether any of the compensation cases involve local backburns is particularly troubling.
During the Black Summer, 10 escaped backburns executed by Hawkesbury Fire Control resulted in catastrophic damage, destroying 217 structures and scorching 547,990 hectares, including 70% of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The environmental toll was staggering, with an estimated one billion animals perishing.
Despite this unprecedented destruction, community members are now grappling with the harsh reality that they may miss out on critical compensation due to the RFS’s lack of transparency. Many locals are still unaware if their losses stemmed from escaped controlled burns.
“How can people make informed decisions when the very agency responsible for these fires won’t even tell them which incidents they’ve compensated?” stated a community leader, highlighting the frustration felt by residents.
The RFS’s failure to meet the requirements set forth in the 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry has only exacerbated the situation. Recommendation 47(d) mandated that the RFS engage with affected communities to discuss the incidents, a directive that remains unfulfilled.
Families devastated by the fires are demanding answers. Many have never received a clear explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the escaped backburns, leaving them in a state of uncertainty as the compensation window closes.
As it stands, residents are struggling to determine:
- Whether their property losses are linked to RFS backburns
- If the RFS has previously admitted fault in similar cases
- Whether they are eligible for compensation
- How to ensure they meet the impending deadline
Community leaders and advocacy groups are calling for immediate action. There is a growing consensus that the NSW Government should direct the RFS to release de-identified information about which incidents resulted in settlements and fulfill its obligation to meet with affected residents.
Six years after the Black Summer fires, the physical scars may have faded, but the search for closure continues. Until the RFS engages openly and transparently with the communities devastated by its actions, uncertainty will prevail.
The clock is ticking, and the need for answers has never been more urgent. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and advocate for their rights as the deadline approaches.
