Last chance to have say in bushfire Royal Commission

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said it is important local people provided their opinion on how the different levels of government responded during the largest bushfire emergency the nation has ever experienced.

"Residents I spoke to during and after the bushfires had good ideas about how we could have streamlined actions and more effectively managed the bushfires," Mr Conaghan said.

"I think it is so important that we hear from the local Rural Fire Service captains, personnel and the communications staff that supported them during one of the most challenging natural disasters in the State's history.

"Thousands of homes and buildings were saved by our Rural Fire Service, but almost 700 homes and outbuildings in Cowper were destroyed or damaged.

"The Royal Commission also provides you with the opportunity to make your opinion known on how vegetation in State Forests and National Parks are managed and the changing climatic conditions, so I urge anyone with a view to share it to the Royal Commission by tomorrow's deadline."

Read more: Pod homes roll out for fire-affected families

The Royal Commission into National Disaster Arrangements was established on February 20, 2020 by the Morrison-McCormack Government following agreement from the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

Residents can make a submission online at naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au/submissions up until 11.59pm April 28, or they can make a verbal submission over the phone by calling 1800 909 826 before 5pm.

More than 22,000 residents and businesses severely impacted by bushfire in Cowper have been assisted by the Federal Government since November last year.

A total of $24,598,400 has been granted to individuals in Disaster Recovery Payments, $7,939,843 to producers in grants worth up to $75,000 and $6,775,001 to councils in Cowper.

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