Has Australia just missed the opportunity we could not afford to miss?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That's the question many people will be asking following the release of the letters patent to establish the Royal Commission into this summer's deadly and devastating bushfires.
Outlining his logic for the inquiry, prime minister Scott Morrison yesterday said the inquiry acknowledges climate change, the broader impact of summers getting longer, drier and hotter and will focus on practical action with a 'direct link to making Australians safer'.
The call to arms on the operational level has been criticised by some who believe it falls short of their demands for an inquiry focused more squarely on the impact and role of climate change.
Mr Morrison wants the inquiry to review what actions need to be undertaken to help improve our nation's readiness for fire seasons that present larger and more intense threats than they did decades ago.
The actions of both the government and the community will form a large part of the inquiry's work, but critics are steadfast in their view the inquiry is looking to duck the central issue of the role of climate change.
They also want a review of what role Australia must play in cutting emissions to help reduce the impact of climate change.
The political danger to the government in putting forward an inquiry deemed too narrow in its focus is likely to plague the coalition in the months ahead.
Not addressing the elephant in the room is seldom a wise move, or one that will win over the greater population.
At least if the inquiry had presented broader terms of reference that zeroed in on climate change, the government could have put its case.
Instead, efforts to put the issue aside will only frustrate Australians demanding our government do more to acknowledge and address climate change.
And a potential failure to win over support from all the various state governments and agencies who have a role to play in any Royal Commission will do nothing to deliver meaningful outcomes.