Bushfires: Are we any better prepared than we were last year?

As bushfire season approaches, hazard reduction burning is happening in parts of Australia, and hopefully making us safer.

But the smell of smoke is also bringing back memories of the horror Black Summer many of us faced.

Recent findings from a NSW inquiry and some interim observations from the Royal Commission have come through this week. So what did we learn from these findings? And are we any better prepared for this year’s summer... than we were last year?

On todays episode we’re joined by one of the key people leading the bushfire response this summer Acting Deputy Commissioner at the NSW RFS Peter Mckechnie.

In today's news headlines:

• Facebook threatens to block Australian news
• Changes to JobKeeper pass parliament: What does it mean for you?

• AFL Grand Final expected to be moved to Queensland

In today's Briefing we ask: What is the bush fire smoke we're smelling in many areas of the country? What is the difference between control burning and back burning? Have we done anything differently this year? Are we doing more controlled burning? Does a wetter spring mean we wont see fires as early? or will there be more fuel to burn? Have we changed our approach to responding to fires as soon as they start, even if they're hard to access? What can we do from a human response to deal with bushfires? Will some of the Covid restrictions put us at more risk of bushfire danger? Will the quarantine restriction on state borders make it a hard to get firefighters from other states or countries to come in and fight the bushfires?

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