Executive summary
This is the sixth report by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) as sole implementation monitor on the progress of the implementation of recommendations and affirmations from the 2014 and 2015–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reports.1 This report summarises implementation progress to August 2021 (and key developments since) of actions and recommendations that were reported as ongoing in IGEM’s Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry: Implementation of recommendations and affirmations – Annual Report 2020 (2020 IGEM Hazelwood report). Progress summary Since the commencement of the reform program, significant progress has been achieved to improve emergency management planning and coordination, health outcomes, and mine regulation and rehabilitation in the Latrobe Valley. Appendix A (refer to page 38) provides a summary of the status of all recommendations, affirmations and actions arising from the Inquiry reports. In summary:
241 of the 246 actions set out in the Victorian Government Implementation Plan are now either closed or complete
all 14 recommendations and affirmations directed to health agencies are complete
25 of the 26 recommendations and affirmations directed to coal mine operators are complete.
This report monitors progress of eight government actions and one recommendation directed to Latrobe Valley coal mine operators that were reported as ongoing in the 2020 IGEM Hazelwood report (refer to Table 1, page 11) Of the eight government actions assessed in this report:
2 are now complete
5 are progressing with four overdue (three with timeframes further revised)
1 has been closed.
Of the 246 government actions set out in the Victorian Government Implementation Plan, the majority have been implemented in a timely fashion. However, despite lead agencies having made progress across 2020–21, five of the eight government actions assessed in this report continue to experience delays to their implementation, with three needing to further revise timeframes – Actions 162, 233, and 245.
1
IGEM’s Hazelwood progress reports are no longer required to be tabled in Parliament as set out in Action 5 of the 2016 Victorian Government Implementation Plan.
