The Major Event Review of Regional Forest Agreements

Following the 2019–20 bushfires, the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments agreed to undertake a Major Event Review to assess the impacts of the fires and identify if future remedial actions need to be taken.

The review applied to Victoria’s Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs). Following the cessation of commercial native timber harvesting, RFAs in Victoria were terminated on 31 December 2024.

The Major Event Review was overseen by an independent Panel and informed by science, Traditional Owner knowledge and public consultation.

The review assessed the impacts of the bushfires on environmental, economic, social and cultural values to identify if remedial actions need to be taken.

The final report of the review provides expert recommendations which have informed the government’s response to the Great Outdoors Taskforce and Eminent Panel for Community Engagement.

Major Event Review Panel report

The Panel submitted its final report to the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments in 2022.

What is the Major Event Review?

• The Major Event Review was a feature of the former RFAs agreed between the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments in 2020.
• It enables the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments to undertake a joint review to assess the impacts of major events, such as bushfire, flood and disease.
• The Major Event Review included assessment of the impacts of a major event and identification of remedial actions. The review is overseen by an independent Panel and informed by science, Traditional Owner knowledge and public consultation in 2021.

Why did we need a Major Event Review?

• Understanding the wider impacts of the 2019–20 bushfires on Aboriginal Victorians and Traditional Owners, communities, plants, animals, ecosystems, businesses and infrastructure is a high priority.
• The 2019–20 fires were exceptional in size and impact burning approximately 1.5 million hectares across Victoria
• Around 1.3 million ha (18%) of Victoria’s public native forest was impacted
• Approximately 78% of the remaining Warm Temperate Rainforest in Victoria was within the fire extent
• Over 50% of the likely state-wide habitat of 244 species of plants and animals was affected, 215 of which are rare or threatened species; and
• Over 1,000 registered Aboriginal heritage places are within the fire affected areas*.

Who carried out the Major Event Review?

The Major Event Review Independent Panel comprised:

• Dr Gillian Sparkes, then Victorian Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability.
• Ms Katherine Mullett, a proud Gunaikurnai, Ngarigo Monero woman with a strong background in Cultural Heritage Management and Land Management.
• Dr Tony Bartlett, an experienced forester in Australian and international forestry.

What changes to forest management in Victoria will result from the Major Event Review?

The Panel’s report and 37 recommendations provide direction to the Victorian and Australian Governments across a range of forest management matters.

The Major Event Review report and recommendations have been a key input to the Victorian Government’s response to the Great Outdoors Taskforce and Eminent Panel for Community Engagement.

There is strong alignment between the response and key themes in the Major Event Review report for improvement to how we manage Victorian forests including:

• active forest management and forest resilience to repeated high intensity bushfires
• outcomes for Traditional Owners through empowered active involvement in forest management
• research, data, and information on forest values and bushfire impacts.