Dr Michael Eburn ANU College of Law P: E: After the disaster learning – to do it better

After the disaster learning Since 1886 there have been at least 256 post disaster inquiries. But disasters still happen. Our focus is on the learning, not the disaster. Can we learn better? Independent inquiries, in particular Royal Commissions and Coroner’s inquests, have costs and benefits. 2

Benefits High prestige; Independent of government; Public; Coercive powers to compel testimony and the production of documents. 3

Costs Fall back on legal procedures leading to increased time and cost. Coercive powers are not required where agencies are part of government and can be directed to cooperate. Can become adversarial and focus on blame or fault. 4

Regehr et al Have identified that involvement in post event inquiries … was associated with significantly higher levels of traumatic stress symptoms and depression … many emergency responders experience the review process as more taxing than the critical event itself’.’ 5

They work well To reveal corruption and maladministration but that is not the issue post disaster. Firefighters and paramedics have rated as the two most trusted professions since the Readers’ Digest survey began in 2006! 6

Motivation for calling an inquiry Not just to learn the lessons but for political reasons too. An inquiry can buy time, divert attention from government, reassure people that government takes the matter seriously. They ‘play an important role … in mitigating public anxieties, and elaborating fantasies of omnipotence and control’. But the politics can get in the way. 7

Can we find a better way to learn… That will be the focus of our ongoing research, looking at alternative and standing bodies to conduct post event inquiries. The identified priorities: –Benchmark against other lessons learned centres and –Maintain independence from government and agencies. 8