Ron McLeod AM 
1 August 2003 
ISBN 0 642 602166 
© Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 7/2003 
This work is copyright. Apart from any use 
as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, 
no part may be reproduced by any process without
written permission from 
Information Planning and Services, 
Department of Urban Services, 
ACT Government, 
GPO Box 249, 
Civic Square ACT 2608.

Enquiries about this publication 
should be directed to the 
Cabinet Office,
Chief Minister's Department

Publication No 03/0537 
http://www.act.gov.au
Telephone: Canberra 13 2281

Maps on the front and rear inside covers of the report were provided courtesy of the NSW Rural Fire Service. The Inquiry has not independently verified the fire related information on the maps. 

Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January Bushfires 
Mr Jon Stanhope MLA Chief Minister ACT Legislative Assembly GPO Box 1020 CANBERRA ACT 2601 
Dear Chief Minister 
I have pleasure in passing on the report of the Inquiry I conducted, in response to the terms of reference you provided. 
The report deals with all of the matters I considered were important but it was not possible to address every matter raised with me during the Inquiry. My approach was to concentrate on those issues that suggested the possibility that they may be related to systemic weaknesses in the emergency management arrangements in place in the ACT.  In this way, my report focuses on matters that may warrant direct attention by the Government, and by the agencies responsible for dealing with the fires and their aftermath. 
The submissions and comments I received from members of the community, and from other sources, were extremely helpful to the Inquiry.  Especially where they added weight to general themes or trends that emerged, they were particularly useful in identifying possible weaknesses in current practices and approaches. 
I have thanked all who assisted, in the body of the report.  I received full cooperation from the members of the ACT public service and others holding positions of authority, who without exception approached the Inquiry in a positive and constructive manner. 
Around 60 recommendations are made in the report and I commend them to you for consideration. 
Thank you for inviting me to undertake this important Inquiry.  It was a privilege to be able to play a small part in helping to identify the lessons to be learnt from the event. 
Yours sincerely 

R N McLeod 1 August 2003 
GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601 Phone (02) 6207 0342 McLeod.Inquiry@act.gov.au