Victorian government admits bushfire recovery system is reactive and under‑funded

A parliamentary research report titled *Enabling Community‑Led Bushfire Recovery* found that the Victorian Labor Government’s response to the January 2026 bushfires was largely reactive, poorly explained and lacking resources. Interviews with community leaders, officials and researchers revealed incidents such as a 15‑week wait for promised clean‑up and an “absolute absence of response” from the Incident Control Centre and Emergency Recovery Victoria.

The report highlighted that local councils, the frontline of recovery, were so under‑resourced that some could not even fund a single recovery worker, effectively leaving them “lame‑duck” organisations. One government official described the state’s approach as a “safety net” that only activates after a disaster, confirming that the response is limited to the bare minimum.

National MP Annabelle Cleeland said the findings would be used to press the government in Parliament and during an upcoming inquiry, urging a shift toward proper resourcing, honest communication and less political interference in community‑led recovery efforts.