National Forum for the Prevention of Bushfire Arson
Summary Report
3 May 2010
Table of contents
Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………………….. Page 3
Agenda …………………………………………………………………………………………………... Page 4
1. Opening Address of the National Forum for the Prevention of Bushfire Arson ……………............ Page 5
National Collaboration
2. A national approach to bushfire arson prevention: Towards greater collaboration ………………… Page 7
Ms Amanda Leck, Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
3. The prevention of bushfire arson …………………………………………………………………… Page 7
Dr Janet Stanley, Monash Sustainability Institute
4. Development of the ‘Wildfire Arson Investigation Management Course ………………………….. Page 8
Mr Richard Woods, ACT Rural Fire Service
5. Improving multi-agency approaches to arson prevention
Mr Chris Lewis, New South Wales Fire Brigades
……………………………………... Page 8
6. Victoria Police Bushfire Arson Prevention and Detection Strategy ………………………………… Page 9
Mr Paul Hollowood, Victoria Police
Law Enforcement Responses
7. Successful bushfire arson prevention: A numbers game ……………………………………………. Page 9
Mr Warwick Jones, Australian Institute of Criminology
8. A centralised database to facilitate effective information sharing on known and …………………. Page 10
suspected arsonists
Ms Sarah Chidgey, Attorney-General’s Department, Mr Stuart Cross, CrimTrac
Community Education and Engagement
9. Best practice in juvenile firesetting intervention in Australia ……………………………………... Page 11
Ms Kate McDonald, Victoria University
10. Juvenile firesetter programs: The Tasmanian experience
Mr Gavin Freeman, Tasmania Fire Service
……………………………………. Page 11
11. Risk intervention: A Queensland approach to fire play, firesetting and arson …………………….. Page 12
Mr Steve Rothwell, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
12. Community response and recovery in disaster …………………………………………………….. Page 12
Ms Lyn Gunter, Former Mayor, Murrindindi Shire Council
13. Launch of the Bushfire Arson Prevention Handbook ……………………………………………… Page 12
Dr Adam Tomison, Australian Institute of Criminology
Appendices
Presenter biographies …………………………………………………………………………………... Page 13
Participants ……………………………………………………………………………………………... Page 17
Page 2
Executive Summary
The Victorian bushfires of February 2009 have been described as Australia's worst natural disaster since
Federation. 173 people lost their lives and more than 2000 homes were destroyed. Amidst the catastrophic
loss of life and extreme property damage, was the tragic fact that some of these bushfires had been
deliberately lit.
The Commonwealth Attorney-General established the National Forum for the Prevention of Bushfire Arson in
2009, to promote more effective and collaborative means of preventing and deterring bushfire arson. The
second annual Forum was attended by more than 40 police, fire agency officers, and arson specialists from
around the country.
Arson is a major threat to the Australian community, with up to half of all bushfires being suspected of being
deliberately lit or starting in suspicious circumstances. In addition to the massive human toll that fires can
take, it is estimated that arson costs the Australian community about $1.6 billion each year. The key to
reducing and preventing bushfire arson is maximising cooperation between fire agencies, police, social
services, the criminal justice system and all levels of government.
To this end, the Forum considered a broad range of successful bushfire arson initiatives from across Australia.
The agenda reflected three priority areas that are critical to delivering a more effective national approach to
combating arson: better national collaboration; better law enforcement responses; and better community
education and engagement. This summary report provides a brief overview of the presentations under each of
these priority areas. Presentations are available upon request to the Attorney-General’s Department, with the
permission of presenters.
As part of the Forum, the Commonwealth announced a number of important and practical initiatives to
promote national collaboration in combating bushfire arson, including:

establishing a centralised national database of convicted and suspected arsonists to provide local
authorities with access to up-to-date information on arsonists;

investing in the development of a ‘Bushfire Arson Investigation Course’ to build the expertise of
arson investigators across the country; and

launching a ‘Bushfire Arson Prevention Handbook’, developed by the Australian Institute of
Criminology, to help local communities develop strategies to prevent bushfire arson.
The Forum demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to
work together to prevent and deter arson through a coordinated national approach.
Page 3
National Forum for the Prevention of Bushfire Arson
10:30am – 4:00pm, Monday 3 May 2010
Canberra Room, Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
AGENDA
Item No.
1.
Opening address
Sponsor
The Hon Robert McClelland MP
Attorney-General
National Collaboration
2.
A national approach to bushfire arson prevention: Towards
greater collaboration
Ms Amanda Leck
Australasian Fire and Emergency
Service Authorities Council
3.
The prevention of bushfire arson
Dr Janet Stanley
Monash Sustainability Institute
4.
Development of the ‘Wildfire Arson Investigation
Management Course’
Mr Richard Woods
ACT Rural Fire Service
5.
Improving multi-agency approaches to arson prevention
Mr Chris Lewis
New South Wales Fire Brigades
6.
Victoria Police Bushfire Arson Prevention and Detection Strategy
Mr Paul Hollowood
Victoria Police
Law Enforcement Responses
7.
Successful bushfire arson prevention: A numbers game
Mr Warwick Jones
Australian Institute of
Criminology
8.
A centralised database to facilitate effective information sharing
on known and suspected arsonists
Ms Sarah Chidgey
Commonwealth / CrimTrac
Community Education and Engagement
9.
Best practice in juvenile firesetting intervention in Australia
Ms Kate McDonald
Victoria University
10.
Juvenile firesetter programs: The Tasmanian experience
Mr Gavin Freeman
Tasmania Fire Service
11.
Risk intervention: A Queensland approach to fire play, firesetting
and arson
Mr Steve Rothwell
Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service
12.
Community response and recovery in disaster
Ms Lyn Gunter
Former Mayor, Murrindindi Shire
Council
13.
Launch of the Bushfire Arson Prevention Handbook
Dr Adam Tomison
Australian Institute of
Criminology
Way forward
The Hon Robert McClelland MP
Attorney-General
Next Steps
14.
Page 4
1. Opening of the 2010 National Forum for the Prevention of Bushfire Arson
The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Commonwealth Attorney-General
First, may I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we meet on – and pay my respects to their elders,
both past and present. It’s a great pleasure to be here today.
Given that around half of all bushfires in Australia are suspected of being deliberately lit, it is critical that all
levels of government, and all sectors of the community, do what we can to prevent bushfire arson. That’s why
today is so important, and I thank you all for coming.
This is the second meeting of this forum which I established in 2009. Last year’s meeting was unprecedented
as for the first time, stakeholders from all states and territories and different agencies got together at a national
level to debate what works and what doesn’t and to discuss what needs to be done in the future with respect to
the prevention of bushfire arson. The overriding message from last year’s meeting was that greater national
coordination and cooperation is critical to successfully addressing bushfire arson. This requires better
collaboration between agencies including police, emergency services, town planners, education and local
government. They all have a part to play. Last year’s forum was a great success and provided the foundation
for what is now a nationally agreed policy setting framework to address bushfire arson in Australia. Today,
we seek to build on this important work.
National Work Plan to Reduce Bushfire Arson
Those of you here at last year’s Forum will recall that we agreed a list of national priorities for action.
This list has directly informed the development of a National Work Plan to Reduce Bushfire Arson in
Australia. This Work Plan was developed jointly by the Commonwealth, States and Territories to institute a
more preventative and collaborative approach to reducing bushfire arson. It specifically focuses on activities
that will benefit from a nationally consistent approach, and from sharing resources and expertise.
The National Work Plan was endorsed in November last year at Ministerial Council meetings of both
Emergency Management and Police Ministers. This clearly represents the ongoing commitment of the
Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to work together to take substantive action on this issue.
Today’s agenda reflects three priority areas that are critical to delivering a more effective national approach to
combating bushfire arson: better national collaboration; better law enforcement responses; and better
community education and engagement. I would like to touch briefly on each of these areas.
Better National Collaboration
As I mentioned earlier, successfully addressing bushfire arson is beyond the capacity of any one agency.
We need to work better together both within and between jurisdictions. This will be the focus of the first
session today. The important thing is that we now have a national framework to deliver on issues that should
be pursued nationally. Together with my State and Territory colleagues, we have established a joint working
group across jurisdictions to drive national priorities. The group, which will hold its first meeting later this
month, is co-chaired by Mr Mike Norris, a senior officer from the Attorney-General’s Department, and Mr
Tony Leech from the Victorian Department of Justice. Obviously, the group will take a close interest in
today’s discussions.
Better Law Enforcement Responses
A more coordinated and effective law enforcement response is one critical aspect in successfully tackling the
problem of bushfire arson which will be discussed in our second session today. Together with the Minister for
Home Affairs, the Hon Brendan O’Connor, I am today announcing that the Commonwealth is working to
develop a centralised national database of convicted and suspected arsonists in the National Police Reference
System. This resource will promote effective information sharing across jurisdictions, allowing local police
access to national up-to-date information on arsonists.
The database could also be used by police as a tool to direct intervention strategies at times of high risk. Of
course, any proposal to develop a national database must be subject to close consultation with the States and
Territories. Following today’s Forum, Minister O’Connor and I will write to the CrimTrac Board of
Management and subsequently State and Territory Police Ministers seeking their endorsement to use the
National Police Reference System as a mechanism for creating a national database of arsonists.
Page 5
It is also my pleasure to announce today that the Commonwealth will provide additional funding for the
development of a Bushfire Arson Investigation Course. This will build on a pilot course conducted by the
ACT Rural Fire Service in October 2009, and we hope it can be available in the future to help build the
expertise of arson investigators across the country.
While it is clearly preferable to seek to prevent arson in the first place, when it does occur, perpetrators
deserve to face the full force of the law. That includes the possibility of murder charges if an arsonist
deliberately lights a fire with reckless indifference to the safety of others. This is consistent with the
recognition at last year’s forum of the need for stronger, more consistent bushfire arson offences. The
Commonwealth is encouraging jurisdictions to implement tough offences along the lines of the proposed
model law drafted by the Commonwealth last year for bushfire arson causing death or serious harm.
This appropriately reflects the serious nature of this crime and represents an important part of raising
community awareness about bushfire arson and the damage it causes to families and communities each year.
Better Community Education and Engagement
Detecting and prosecuting arsonists is important, but it does not represent a complete solution to the issue.
Better community education and engagement is equally, if not more, important in preventing arson before it
actually occurs. It is critical that fire and police services work hand in hand with schools, community groups
and social services, to ensure that individuals at risk of engaging in arson can be deterred. In the third session
later today, we will hear about a number of community education programs already underway at a State and
Territory level. I hope we can develop ideas for developing these campaigns and sharing experiences
nationally.
I am pleased to advise that a ‘Bushfire Arson Prevention Manual’ developed by the Australian Institute of
Criminology will be launched later today. The manual will help stakeholders at the local level develop arson
prevention strategies to reduce the impact of deliberately lit fires in the Australian bush. It is hoped that the
manual will become an important reference for use by a number of relevant local organisations, particularly
fire agencies and the police, when developing community based bushfire arson prevention strategies.
The announcements I have made today—for a national arsonist database, a Bushfire Arson Investigation
Course, and a Bushfire Arson Prevention Manual—deliver on key priorities agreed at last year’s Forum and
identified in the National Action Plan. It is clear that in the year since our inaugural meeting we have made
significant progress— but there is much more to be done. The challenge before us is to turn these policies and
strategies into positive real world outcomes. Today’s Forum represents a step toward achieving this goal.
Throughout today’s proceedings, I look forward to hearing about a number of successful initiatives from
around the country. Ideas and outcomes from today will feed directly into implementing the national bushfire
arson strategy.
I am pleased to declare this Forum officially open.
Thank you.
Page 6
National Collaboration
In most cases, no one agency has the sole responsibility for coordinating bushfire arson prevention.
Responsibility for prevention measures cuts across traditional boundaries between national, state and local
agencies.
Successfully addressing bushfire arson is beyond the capacity of any one agency in isolation. A cooperative
nation-wide effort is required across portfolios at all levels of government. This includes better coordination
between police, fire and emergency services to engage in targeted prevention programs and share information
in investigating crimes.
The presentations under this priority area address the importance of a multi-agency and inter-disciplinary
response.
Agenda Item 2
Title of presentation:
A national approach to bushfire arson prevention: Towards greater
collaboration.
Presenter:
Ms Amanda Leck, Manager Knowledge and Innovation
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC).
Overview:
This presentation highlighted the work AFAC has undertaken with its member
agencies in the areas of information sharing, nationally accredited training
programs, data collection and community education.
Summary points:

AFAC is the peak fire and emergency services industry body, established by its 34 members to
collaborate on matters of international, national and regional importance.

AFAC is working closely with the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre to adopt findings from
recent research in order to inform decision making of current and future practice. The need for a
multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach has been identified as key to addressing the issue of
bushfire arson in the areas of prevention, preparedness and response.

AFAC plays a key role in facilitating two-way information sharing between agencies. For example,
the AFAC Knowledge Web brings together the broad spectrum of research, both within the Bushfire
Cooperative Research Centre and from researchers in other organisations, together with local
knowledge, and lessons learned.
Agenda Item 3
Title of presentation:
The prevention of bushfire arson.
Presenter:
Dr Janet Stanley, Chief Research Office, Monash Sustainability Institute.
Overview:
This presentation provided an overview of the Symposium Advancing
Bushfire Arson Prevention in Australia, held on 25-26 March 2010.
Summary points:

The Symposium was a joint initiative of the Australian Bushfire Arson Prevention Initiative and the
Australian Institute of Criminology. It was hosted by the Monash Sustainability Institute.

Bushfire arson is an intractable and costly problem for Australia. The symposium brought together a
wide range of stakeholders to identify gaps in current knowledge and responses to bushfire arson, and
determine priorities for addressing them.
Page 7

The Australian Bushfire Arson Prevention Initiative is working towards a 25% reduction in arson lit
fires in five years time, and will use the conclusions from the Symposium as the basis for setting goals
and structuring planning over the next five years.

The Symposium report is available on the Monash Sustainability Institute website.
Agenda Item 4
Title of presentation:
Wildfire Arson Investigation Management Course – A way forward.
Presenter:
Mr Richard Woods, Manager, Operations, ACT Rural Fire Service.
Overview:
This presentation provided an overview of the course content and plans for its
further development for Australian use.
Summary points:

The need for cross-agency investigation capability is critical to the successful investigation of bushfire
arson. Overseas experience has demonstrated that the skill sets of fire and police investigators can be
successfully combined to investigate these fire events.

Originally developed in the United States and Canada, the Wildfire Arson Investigation Course is
designed to align police and fire services investigators skills to solve serial wildfire arsonists.

In September 2009, a pilot Wildfire Investigation Case Development Course was hosted by the ACT
Rural Fire Service with students attending from across Australia and New Zealand. This pilot course
was held to gauge its application to the Australian and New Zealand context.

As part of the Forum, the Commonwealth announced additional funding for the development of a
Bushfire Arson Investigation Course, building on the pilot course conducted by the ACT Rural Fire
Service in October 2009. This commitment delivers on actions identified in the National Work Plan
to Reduce Bushfire Arson in Australia
Agenda Item 5
Title of presentation:
Improving multi-agency approaches to arson prevention.
Presenter:
Superintendent Chris Lewis, Fire Investigation and Research Unit,
New South Wales Fire Brigades.
Overview:
This presentation provided an overview of the multi-agency approach to
bushfire arson in New South Wales. In particular, Strikeforce TRONTO, the
Hunter Arson Reduction Taskforce, the Doonside Project and the work of the
Inter-Agency Arson Committee.
Summary points:

New South Wales is looking at the strengths of these multi-agency approaches and what
improvements could be made in the future.
Page 8
Agenda Item 6
Title of presentation:
Victoria Police Bushfire Arson Prevention and Detection Strategy.
Presenter:
Detective Superintendent Paul Hollowood, Tasking and Coordination
Operations, Crime Department, Victoria Police.
Overview:
This presentation provided an overview of Victoria’s Bushfire Arson
Prevention and Detection Strategy.
Summary points:

The Victorian bushfires of February 2009 were the largest scale civilian disaster in Australia’s history,
causing a devastating effect upon life, community and the environment.

Following this disaster, Victoria Police has gained unique insights into the issues associated with
bushfire arson, and also the gaps that exist in respect to capability.

The Victoria Police Bushfire Arson Prevention and Detection Strategy is a unique state-wide
coordinated approach to combat bushfire arson more effectively.
Law Enforcement Responses
A more coordinated and effective law enforcement response is one critical aspect in successfully tackling the
problem of bushfire arson. Fundamental to the development of more effective bushfire arson prevention
strategies is better and more accessible data.
Statistical data collection systems in Australia have inconsistent classification schemes. Reliance on available
data is complicated by a lack of distinction between urban arson and vegetation or bushfire arson attacks.
Additionally, there is a lack of documented empirical data and local knowledge, as information tends to be
anecdotal and passed informally.
Presentations under this priority area highlight the need for more work on understanding what data is needed,
and how best to standardise, gather and present this information for both operational and knowledge
development purposes.
Agenda Item 7
Title of presentation:
Successful bushfire arson prevention: A numbers game.
Presenter:
Mr Warwick Jones, Research Manager, Geographic Analysis,
Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC).
Overview:
This presentation used the AIC’s recent analysis of nearly three hundred
thousand bushfire ignition records from eighteen fire agencies in Australia.
Summary points:

The AIC is Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice.

The AIC’s findings identify that a key vulnerability of the perpetrators is the patterned nature of their
activities. These patterns can be discovered by good data systems, and then used to develop
appropriate bushfire arson prevention strategies.
Page 9
Agenda Item 8
Title of presentation:
A centralised database to facilitate effective information sharing on known
and suspected arsonists.
Presenters:
Ms Sarah Chidgey, Assistant Secretary, Criminal Law and Law Enforcement
Branch, Attorney-General’s Department.
Mr Stewart Cross, National Manager, Law Enforcement Information Services,
CrimTrac.
Overview:
This presentation provided an overview of how the proposed changes to the
CrimTrac National Police Reference System database will work, and what
will need to be done in order to ensure its effectiveness.
Summary points:

At the 2009 Forum, it was agreed that a national arson database could be used as a tool to direct
intervention strategies at times of high risk, and that the Attorney-General’s Department would
investigate options for this proposal.

The Attorney-General’s Department has examined a number of options and recommends adding a
new field of suspected and convicted arsonists to the CrimTrac National Police Reference System.

As part of the Forum, the Commonwealth announced the proposed establishment of a centralised
national database of convicted and suspected arsonists to provide local police authorities with access
to up-to-date information on arsonists. The information may be used to direct intervention strategies
at times of high risk. This commitment delivers on actions identified in the National Work Plan for
the Prevention of Bushfire Arson.

Following the presentation, the Attorney-General announced his intention to jointly write with
Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, to State and Territory Police Ministers
seeking their support for the use of the National Police Reference System as a mechanism for creating
a national database of arsonists.
Page 10
Community Education and Engagement
While detecting and prosecuting arsonists is important, it does not represent a complete solution to the issue.
Better community education and engagement is equally, if not more important in preventing arson before it
actually occurs.
Australian fire agencies have a long history of running programs and promoting community safety to reduce
the incidence and potential damage of fires. Programs in schools, the promotion of devices such as smoke
alarms, advice on the preparation and defence of property and other community education initiatives are
already underway at a State and Territory level. Traditional bushfire prevention campaigns focus on
protection against fire rather than preventing fires from starting.
Presentations under this priority area demonstrate examples of fire and police services working with schools,
community groups and social services to ensure that individuals at risk of engaging in arson can be deterred.
Agenda Item 9
Title of presentation:
Best practice in juvenile fire setting intervention in Australia.
Presenter:
Ms Kate McDonald, Victoria University.
Overview:
This presentation highlighted the risk factors of recidivist firesetters who
participate in juvenile fire safety education programs in Australia.
Summary points:

There is some evidence to suggest that childhood interest in fire may predict adult involvement in fire.

Early intervention programs are paramount to addressing antisocial behaviour such as fire setting, as
these behaviours are difficult to change once they are established in adults.

Ten evidence-based best practice benchmarks were presented to guide Australian practice. A pilot of
a multidisciplinary juvenile fire setting intervention program in a selected Australian jurisdiction was
recommended as the next step forward in meeting these benchmarks.
Agenda Item 10
Title of presentation:
Juvenile firesetter programs: The Tasmanian experience.
Presenter:
Mr Gavin Freeman, Deputy Chief Officer, Tasmania Fire Service.
Objective:
This presentation provided an overview of Tasmania’s Juvenile Fire Lighter
Intervention Program (JFLIP).
Summary points:

JFLIP is an early intervention program designed to prevent further fire lighting. Participation is
voluntary and family-based.

The program is designed for primary school-aged children and their families, and is suitable for
children who light fires out of curiosity or fascination with fire, or for experimentation.
Page 11
Agenda Item 11
Title of presentation:
Risk intervention: A Queensland approach to fire play, firesetting and arson.
Presenter:
Mr Steve Rothwell, Assistant Commissioner Rural Operations,
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
Objective:
This presentation will outline current Queensland initiatives and possible
future developments.
Summary points:

Queensland has a strong focus on preventing risky behaviour of children and young people in relation
to fire. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has undertaken innovative work in identifying
communities with high arson potential to better target their education and their ‘Fighting Fascination
with Fire’ program.

This program may serve as a model in terms of its design, comprehensiveness and evaluation.
Agenda Item 12
Title of presentation:
Community response and recovery in disaster.
Presenter:
Ms Lyn Gunter, Former Mayor, Murrindindi Shire Council.
Objective:
This presentation provided a community’s perspective on bushfire arson. It
detailed the role of the community through the devastating events of Black
Saturday, and how new leaders came forward to assist in the aftermath of the
fires.
Summary points:

The principles and lessons learned from Black Saturday could assist in community capacity-building
and engagement at any level of government. They also provide information and knowledge to guide
responses to the various phases of an emergency, including long term recovery efforts.
Agenda Item 13
Title of presentation:
Australian Institute of Criminology’s (AIC) Bushfire Arson Prevention
Handbook.
Presenter:
Dr Adam Tomison, Director, AIC.
Objective:
This presentation launched the AIC’s Bushfire Arson Prevention Handbook.
Summary points:

The Bushfire Arson Prevention Handbook was developed for use by local organisations, particularly
fire agencies and the police, when developing community based bushfire arson prevention strategies.

It was developed as part of a four year project by the AIC, funded by the Bushfire Co-operative
Research Centre, which aimed to reduce the impact of deliberately lit fires in Australian bushland
environments.

The launch of the Handbook delivers on actions identified in the National Work Plan to Reduce
Bushfire Arson in Australia and is available on the AIC’s website.
Page 12
Presenter Biographies
Amanda Leck
Manager, Knowledge and Innovation, Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
Amanda Leck is the Manager, Knowledge and Innovation with the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service
Authorities Council. In this role she is responsible for assisting with the transfer of knowledge across the fire
and emergency services sector through a range of initiatives.
Amanda has spent more than 15 years working in the areas of community safety and community development
with the Country Fire Authority of Victoria and the Victorian State Government. She has a background in
media and communications, and has worked to build self-reliant communities who understand and can
manage risk, across a range of contexts and environments.
She has a Bachelor of Arts, with honours, and has completed a journalism cadetship.
Dr Janet Stanley
Chief Research Officer, Monash Sustainability Institute
Dr Stanley is a Chief Research Officer at the Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University. Prior to this
appointment, Janet was Senior Manager, Research and Policy, at the Brotherhood of St Laurence. In mid
2009, Janet established 'The Australian Bushfire Arson Prevention Initiative'.
Her other research interests include social policy, transport, social exclusion, cities and community
development, as they relate to sustainability and climate change. She is on the Ministerial Reference Council
for Climate Change Adaptation for Victorian Minister, the Hon Gavin Jennings MP. Janet has many
publications and speaks widely in Australia and internationally.
Books include ‘No Way to Go: Transport and Social Disadvantage in Australian Communities’.
Superintendent Richard Woods
Operations Manager, ACT Rural Fire Service
Richard Woods is the Operations Manager for the ACT Rural Fire Service in Canberra, holding this role since
2009. He was formally the Manager Fire Investigation for the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service
since 2001. In that role he established a Fire Investigation capability for NSW Rural Fire Service.
Prior to this role he held the position of Inspector for the Shoalhaven District on the South Coast of NSW,
managing 32 Stations and 1200 fire-fighters. Whilst in this position Richard built an extensive Wildfire
Investigation Program for that District, one of the first in NSW. Before coming to the NSW Rural Fire
Service as an employee in 1991, Richard was a volunteer with the Service since 1976 and a Police Officer in
NSW for over 9 years.
Richard has previously undertaken a number of study tours of North America reviewing fire investigation
management. He has also presented a number of papers on the Wildfire Fire Investigation topic to
international fora across North America.
Richard has completed a Graduate Certificate and a Diploma in Fire Investigation.
He is the current Chair of the International Association of Arson Investigators, Wildland Arson Committee;
Australian representative of the North American based Wildland Fire Investigation Team and is a former
President of the NSW Chapter (47) of the International Association of Arson Investigators.
Page 13
Superintendent Chris Lewis
Fire Investigation and Research Unit, New South Wales Fire Brigades
Superintendent Chris Lewis has been working for the NSW Fire Brigades for over 30 years and is currently
the manager of the NSW Fire Brigades Fire Investigation and Research Unit.
Previous experience includes working as Assistant Director in Strategy and Planning, Assistant Director
Community Safety, and Assistant Director Information Technology.
Chris has recently completed a Doctorate in Public Policy with Charles Sturt University. Previous areas of
study include a Masters of Applied Science with UWS, and a Masters in Business Administration with Deakin
University.
Paul Hollowood
Detective Superintendent, Tasking and Coordination Operations, Crime Department, Victoria Police
Paul has over thirty-four years experience with Victoria Police and is presently a Detective Superintendent
with the Victoria Police Crime Department.
He has an extensive array of policing experience, principally as a criminal investigator and as a leader of
groups involved in major crime and organised crime investigation, counter-terrorism and criminal intelligence.
He initially gained his experience from uniform and investigative postings in the inner suburban areas of
Melbourne, prior to taking up duties with various state crime squads. During that time he has performed two
tours of duty with the Homicide Squad. He has been involved in the investigation of numerous high profile,
complex and protracted serious crimes.
In the last few years in the role of Major Crime Tasking & Coordination Manager for Victoria Police, he has
overseen the operations of many of the State’s premier investigative squads and task forces.
Paul has been awarded the National Medal and Police Service Medal. He has been conferred with a Master of
Arts (Public Police and Administration), Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice Administration) and an Associate
Diploma (Executive Leadership).
In 2000, he represented Australia in undertaking the FBI National Academy Course in North Virginia. Paul
has represented Victoria Police in numerous state, national and international capacities. This includes the
development of national and state-based strategies to combat crime and improve criminal investigation.
In 2005 he led the Major Crime Management Model project commencing the most comprehensive
transformation undertaken in respect to the manner whereby Victoria Police approaches major crime.
In 2009 he was appointed as the Senior Investigative Officer to lead the Phoenix Task Force as part of
Victoria Police’s response to the Black Saturday Bushfires. It is already the largest investigation undertaken in
the over 150 year history of the Victoria Police Force.
Warwick Jones
Research Manager, Geographic Analysis, Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC)
Warwick currently leads the AIC’s research into the geography of crime and manages the bushfire arson
program. Prior to joining the AIC, he developed Australia’s largest socio-economic analysis, the Australian
Social and Economic Geography (AUSEG) program, and pioneered many of the techniques used to analyse
complex social systems.
He has extensive research experience in climate variability/climate change, ecosystem research and integrated
risk management. He has been a volunteer fire fighter for more than twenty years.
Page 14
Sarah Chidgey
Assistant Secretary, Criminal Law and Law Enforcement Branch, Attorney-General’s Department
Sarah Chidgey is the Assistant Secretary of the Criminal Law and Law Enforcement Branch of the AttorneyGeneral’s Department. The Branch develops policy and provides advice to government on federal criminal
law and law enforcement matters, and is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Organised
Crime Strategic Framework.
Prior to this Ms Chidgey was the National Security Adviser in the Office of the Attorney-General. She has
also held positions in the Security Law Branch and Regional Legal Assistance Unit of the Attorney-General’s
Department and the Domestic Security Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Stewart Cross
National Manager, Law Enforcement Information Services, CrimTrac
Stewart joined CrimTrac during the Agency’s inception in 2000 and has undertaken a range of management
responsibilities within the Agency since that time, including the establishment and management of the
Agency’s operations environment, service desks, criminal history and capability development areas. He is
now responsible for the Law Enforcement Information Services Portfolio that encompasses the development,
implementation and management of CrimTrac’s law enforcement information systems, National Case
Management, Child Protection initiatives and the Australian National Child Offender Register, Biometrics and
Automated Number Plate Recognition.
Kate McDonald
Victoria University
Biography not provided.
Gavin Freeman
Deputy Chief Officer, Tasmania Fire Service
Gavin Freeman started as a Recruit Firefighter in 1985 with the Hobart Fire Brigade. After 6 years he was
promoted to Station Officer and in 1998 to District Officer. In 2009 he was promoted to Deputy Regional
Chief North, and on 17 February 2010 he was formally appointed as Deputy Chief Officer. His key
performances and achievements include:
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USA deployments in 2000 and 2003 undertaking strategic command of several hundred multi-agency
personnel and working in a leadership role with large scale IMT’s;
Victorian and NSW deployments as both Task Force Leader and Incident Controller;
High level state and international representation on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear
fora;
Incident Controller of the Myer store fire. He also presented as an expert witness at the Coronial
inquiry;
Introduction of vertical rescue to the Tasmanian Fire Service; and
A major influence on the introduction of nationally recognised operational training to Tasmania.
His operational experience is supported by his formal tertiary qualifications including Master of Emergency
Management, Graduate Diploma in Executive Leadership, Graduate Certificate in Applied Management and
Advanced Diploma in Firefighting Management.
Page 15
Steve Rothwell
Assistant Commissioner Rural Operations, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
Steve commenced his fire service career with the ACT Fire Brigade in 1977, where he served in Operations,
Fire Safety and various support functions before relocating to Queensland in 1993 and based in Mackay. In
1997 he moved to Brisbane to take up the role of Manager, Strategic Development, for the then Brisbane
South Region.
Steve was appointed as Assistant Commissioner, South Western Region, in April 2002, and held this position
until he was seconded into Rural Operations in July 2005. Steve was appointed to the position of Assistant
Commissioner Rural Operations in February 2006 and has responsibility for the States Rural Fire Service,
which has some 35,000 volunteers. In this position, Steve is committed to continuing the development of
support mechanisms and training programs to further enhance and develop the Rural Fire Service. Steve has
placed a strong emphasis on improving the organisational structure, training programs, support and promotion
of the Rural Fire Service.
Steve is a Graduate of the Institute of Fire Engineers and also holds postgraduate qualifications in applied
management and leadership, along with a Diploma in Business Management and an Associate Diploma in
Applied Science (Fire Technology). Steve was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in January 2005,
for his services to the Queensland Rural Fire Service especially in his leadership of service delivery, training
and community safety.
Lyn Gunter
Former Mayor, Murrindindi Shire Council
Lyn has been working with the community in various voluntary roles and paid board positions for 35 years.
She was a councillor for 16 years, 8 years with the Shire of Yea and almost 10 years with the Murrindindi
Shire. Lyn served as Mayor for five terms including through the devastating Victorian bushfires of 2009. Her
emergency service work includes Controller of the Victorian State Emergency Service for 10 years, serving on
the board of the Country Fire Authority and as a volunteer in Flowerdale.
Dr Adam Tomison
Director, Australian Institute of Criminology
Dr Tomison was appointed Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) in July 2009. He is
internationally recognised as an expert in the field of child abuse, the prevention of child abuse and other
family violence, and the development and operation of child protection and family support systems. An
experienced public service executive, he has worked over the past two decades with a range of government,
non-government organisations and advocacy groups, focused on child protection and child abuse prevention in
Australia and overseas.
Prior to his appointment with the AIC, he was Head of the Child Protection Program at the Menzies School of
Health Research. From 2004 to 2008 he held various senior executive positions within the Northern Territory
Department of Health and Families, including as Director of the Northern Territory's Family and Children's
Services, and as the Department's inaugural Principal Child Protection Adviser in 2004.
In 2006-07 Dr Tomison acted as the expert advisor (and Director of Policy and Research) for the 'Little
Children are Sacred' Northern Territory Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse.
He is perhaps best known for his work as a senior researcher with the Australian Institute of Family Studies,
managing the National Child Protection Clearinghouse. Under his leadership, the Clearinghouse became a
centre for excellence with a national and international reputation in the field of child abuse prevention and
child protection. He subsequently developed a number of other national research and information units for the
Institute, notably the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault.
Dr Tomison has made significant academic contributions to scholarly and applied research in the areas of
child protection and violence prevention, including serving as a member of the editorial board of Child Abuse
and Neglect: The International Journal. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and has regularly run
educational and training seminars for professionals and the wider community.
Page 16
Participants
Commonwealth
The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Commonwealth Attorney-General
(Chair)
Mr Mike Rothery, First Assistant Secretary
National Security Resilience Policy, Attorney-General’s Department
Mr Mike Norris, First Assistant Secretary, National Security Capability
Development Division, Attorney-General’s Department
Ms Ayesha Perry, Assistant Secretary, Emergency Management Policy
Attorney-General’s Department
Ms Sarah Chidgey, Assistant Secretary, Criminal Law and Law
Enforcement, Attorney-General’s Department
Mr Tony Allen, National Police Reference System, Coordinating Business
Change Manager, CrimTrac
Mr Stewart Cross, National Manager, Law Enforcement Information
Services, CrimTrac
National Organisations
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service
Authorities Council
Mr Steven Pearce, Acting Assistant Commissioner/Director Of
Community Safety, New South Wales Fire Brigades
Ms Amanda Leck, Manager, Knowledge Innovation
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
Australian Institute of Criminology
Dr Adam Tomison, Director
Australian Institute of Criminology
Mr Warwick Jones, Research Manager, Geographic Analysis
Australian Institute of Criminology
Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre
Mr Gary Morgan, Chief Executive Officer
Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre
Australasian Assembly of Volunteer Fire
Brigade Association
Mr Alan Holley, President
Australian Assembly of Volunteer Fire Brigade Associations
Monash Sustainability Institute
Dr Janet Stanley, Chief Research Officer
Monash Sustainability Institute
Non-Government
Murrindindi Shire Council
Ms Lyn Gunter, Former Mayor
Victoria University
Ms Kate McDonald, PhD Researcher
State and Territory Governments
Australian Capital Territory
Mr Roman Quaedvlieg, Chief Police Officer
ACT Police
Mr Andrew Stark, Chief Officer
ACT Rural Fire Service
Mr Richard Woods, Manager
Operations, ACT Rural Fire Service
Ms Simone Fowlie, Senior Manager
Community Based Corrections, ACT Corrective Services
Mr Peter Townsend, Manager
Corrections Programs, ACT Corrective Services
Ms Lil Hays, Acting Senior Manager, Legislation and Policy Branch
ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety
Page 17
Northern Territory
Mr Mick Ayre, Assistant Director
Development and Strategy, Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service
Queensland
Mr Steve Rothwell, Assistant Commissioner
Rural Operations, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
New South Wales
Mr Greig Newbery, Detective Superintendent, Commander
Property Crime Squad, New South Wales Police Force
Mr Geoffrey Leonard, Detective Inspector, Arson Team
Property Crime Squad, New South Wales Police Force
Mr Chris Lewis, Superintendent
New South Wales Fire Brigade
Mr Rob Rogers, Assistant Commissioner
New South Wales Rural Fire Service
Mr Steve Yorke, Chief Superintendent
New South Wales Rural Fire Service
South Australia
Mr Silvio Amoroso, Chief Superintendent
South Australia Police
Mr Leigh Miller, Manager, Prevention Services
South Australia Country Fire Service
Mr Rick Persse, Executive Director
Justice Business Services, Attorney-General’s Department, South
Australia
Tasmania
Mr Scott Tilyard, Assistant Commissioner of Police
Crime and Operations, Tasmania Police
Mr Gavin Freeman, Deputy Chief Officer
Tasmania Fire Service
Victoria
Mr Kieran Walshe, Deputy Commissioner
Victoria Police
Mr Paul Hollowood, Detective Superintendent
Tasking and Coordination Operations, Crime Department, Victoria Police
Mr Ian Hunter, Commander
Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency
Services Board
Mr Alexander Conway, Station Officer
Fire Investigation and Analysis Unit, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency
Services Board
Mr Frank Stockton AFSM, Commander, Acting Executive Manager
Community Education, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board
Ms Lisa Sturgenegger, Director Community Safety
Victoria Country Fire Authority
Ms Nicole Harvey, State Fire Investigation Coordinator
Victorian Country Fire Authority
Western Australia
Mr Gary Baxter, Acting District Manager
Fire Investigation Analysis Unit, Fire and Emergency Services Authority
of Western Australia
Mr Ian Thompson, Detective Senior Sergeant, Officer in Charge
Police Arson Squad, Western Australia Police
Page 18