Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires Across Victoria

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Murrindindi Shire Council has formally submitted its evidence to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires.

This submission reflects the lived experience of our community, the scale of impact across our Shire, and the critical reforms needed to ensure rural communities are better supported before, during and after major emergencies.

Read Council’s full submission(PDF, 1MB)

Our experience

The January 2026 fires had a devastating and far-reaching impact on Murrindindi.

  • Nearly half of all structures lost across Victoria were in our Shire
  • 216 homes and more than 520 outbuildings were destroyed
  • Extensive impacts to agriculture, infrastructure, environment and community wellbeing
  • Almost one-third of the municipality directly affected by the fires

This event did not occur in isolation. Our community is still recovering from floods in 2022, 2023 and 2024, compounding the pressure on residents, businesses and Council.

 

What we are saying

Our submission makes one thing clear: Equal funding did not result in equal outcomes.

Despite experiencing the greatest level of impact, Murrindindi received the same baseline recovery funding as less affected municipalities. This has created real and visible gaps in recovery support for our community.

We are calling for:

  • Recovery funding based on impact, not a one-size-fits-all model
  • Stronger, more resilient infrastructure (power, telecommunications and roads)
  • Better support for volunteers and emergency services
  • Recognition and funding of community-led recovery hubs
  • Long-term, place-based recovery funding for rural communities
  • Structural reform to how rural councils are funded and supported in disasters

Our submission also highlights critical issues including telecommunications failures, prolonged power outages, inconsistent recovery coordination, and the increasing toll of repeated disasters on community wellbeing.

 

Why this matters

The 2026 fires were not an isolated event—they are part of a growing pattern of more frequent and more intense climate-driven disasters.

As outlined in our submission:

“Rural communities cannot continue to absorb escalating disasters without structural reform.”

Without change, communities like ours will continue to face disproportionate impacts with insufficient support.

 

Have your say

This Inquiry is an important opportunity to ensure local experiences shape future emergency management and recovery systems.

We encourage community members, businesses and organisations to:

  • Read submissions from across Victoria
  • Share your experiences
  • Stay engaged as the Inquiry progresses

Visit the Parliament of Victoria Inquiry page:

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/2026firesinquiry

 

Stay informed

Council will continue to advocate strongly for our community and keep you updated as the Inquiry progresses.

If you would like more information or support, please contact Council or visit our January 2026 Fire (Longwood) recovery hub.

 

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