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Editor's note
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In an interview Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged to take a proposal for a royal commission into the bushfire crisis to his Cabinet.
Already, however, he’s getting push-back from those who don’t think another bushfire inquiry is needed.
Just yesterday, the United Firefighters Union of Australia urged the PM to drop the idea and instead set up an audit of all existing bushfire recommendations that haven’t been implemented.
Fire ecology and management expert Kevin Tolhurst agrees. According to his research, there have been 57 formal public inquiries, reviews and royal commissions related to bushfires and fire management since 1939.
He’s given expert evidence to at least seven of them, including the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
Tolhurst believes there’s a better use of government time and money – developing a comprehensive and sustainable fire management strategy for the country.
Another royal commission, he says, will only reiterate what we’ve known for decades.
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Justin Bergman
Deputy Editor: Politics + Society
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Top story
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military.
Kevin Tolhurst, University of Melbourne
Many of the recommendations of previous inquiries and reviews have yet to be implemented. What we need is a better fire and land management strategy – not another royal commission.
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The bushfire crisis is big enough to change the government’s emissions policy, but it swill need more.
Shutterstock
John Daley, Grattan Institute; Emily Millane, Grattan Institute
An old political maxim is to 'never waste a crisis', but sometimes a crisis isn't enough.
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Tiny house living seems idyllic, but there are many things to be considered before making the transition.
Emmett Blackwell
Heather Shearer, Griffith University; Samuel Alexander, University of Melbourne
People are increasingly becoming interested in the tiny house trend, but what type of tiny house would suit your needs?
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The holidays will likely disrupt usual school sleep and wake times.
from shutterstock.com
Christine Grové, Monash University; Kelly-Ann Allen, Monash University
Many children will be anxious about going back to school. Some might be excited. Either way, there are some things you can do to help ease the transition.
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Arts + Culture
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Lydia Edwards, Edith Cowan University
The pool and the beach have become acceptable spaces to bare all, but how did we get here?
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Cherine Fahd, University of Technology Sydney
This new play will feel familiar to those of us who grew up in Lebanese Australian families.
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Environment + Energy
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Emma Spencer, University of Sydney; Chris Dickman, University of Sydney; Philip Barton, Australian National University; Thomas Newsome, University of Sydney
There's logic in burying carcasses as they can harbour nasty diseases, but they also help landscapes recover from fire.
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Michelle O'Shea, Western Sydney University; Neil Perry, Western Sydney University; Sarah Duffy, Western Sydney University
F1 has promised a move to 'credible offsets and breakthrough C02 sequestration programs'. But there's a persistent lack of clear detail in the how, what and where.
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Science + Technology
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James Jin Kang, Edith Cowan University; Paul Haskell-Dowland, Edith Cowan University
Predicting life expectancy remains in the realm of science fiction, but it may soon be possible. Are we prepared for such information? And who else would benefit from this knowledge?
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Health + Medicine
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Katrina Schmid, Queensland University of Technology; Isabelle Jalbert, UNSW
Another troubling consequence of the bushfire smoke is its effects on our eyes. But there are some steps we can take to minimise irritation and any risk of longer term harms.
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Christine Jenkins, George Institute for Global Health
Bushfire smoke is making it difficult for some people to breathe. Those with asthma are at particular risk, but not everyone with the condition has been diagnosed. Here's what to look out for.
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