Submission to Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Inquiry into lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-2020

Mental Health Australia is pleased to contribute to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Inquiry into lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-2020 (the Inquiry).

This submission has a specific focus on responding to section (h) of the Terms of Reference, which refer to “an examination of the physical and mental health impacts of bushfires on the population, and the Federal Government’s response to those impacts.” This submission primarily focuses on mental health impacts of the bushfires, with related commentary on physical health impacts due to the interrelated nature of physical and mental health.

Read the submission here