R v Doogan; Ex parte Lucas-Smith

austlii:act/ACTCD/2025/4

ACTCD|2025-06-13|Before: Chief Coroner Walker

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General information, not legal advice.

At a glance

Source facts

Court

ACTCD

Decision date

2025-06-13

Before

Chief Coroner Walker

Catchwords

CORONIAL LAW – bushfire – scope of inquiry – cause
and origin of the fire – circumstances in which the fire happened –
Defence Assistance to the Civil Community – interagency communications and
operations – delay in reporting a bushfire

Source

Original judgment source is linked above.

Catchwords

CORONIAL LAW – bushfire – scope of inquiry – causeand origin of the fire – circumstances in which the fire happened –Defence Assistance to the Civil Community – interagency communications andoperations – delay in reporting a bushfire– risk managementplanning and processes – reporting obligations – matters of publicsafety

Judgment (3 paragraphs)

[1]

This matter has taken far too long to be finalised. Without demur, I offer my apologies to those affected by the fire and its aftermath, in the various ways in which that has occurred.
I note that much consideration has been given by those involved in our community's response to bushfires as to how to address this challenging phenomenon in the future. It is evident that our best response can only be achieved by a united community effort. As a community, we must, and rightly do, have confidence in the excellent and necessary co-operation between the Commonwealth, our dedicated military personnel and ACT administrative and fire-fighting personnel. Nothing in these findings should be interpreted to suggest otherwise.

[2]

R v Doogan; Ex parte Lucas-Smith

At a glance

Court

Decision date

Before

Catchwords

Source

Catchwords

Judgment (3 paragraphs)

Parties

Cases Cited (4)

Inquiry into the Orroral Valley Fire [2025] ACTCD 4 (13 June 2025)