This summer we are again witnessing the destruction of nature as bushfires, heatwaves, floods, cyclones and severe storms cause havoc in our communities. Lives have been lost, hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to property and infrastructure, communities isolated, crops and livestock destroyed and disruption to power and other utilities.

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For many threatened communities they are enduring the long journey of recovery from previous disasters. Australia's natural hazard risk is worsening due to climate change, increasing numbers of people living in at-risk areas and environmental degradation. In the future we will likely see widening natural hazard losses, increasing impacts on physical and mental health and rising insurance unaffordability.

The changes will result in greater demands on fire and emergency services already under pressure from worsening natural hazard risk and the need for greater investments by governments to fund reconstruction efforts and ensure a sustainable volunteer workforce.

Much has been done to enhance preparedness for bushfires since the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. We have advanced the Australian Fire Danger Rating System and emergency warnings to empower our communities to make informed choices. We have some of the most capable fire and emergency services in the world and invest in disaster resilience measures. But we must transform to meet the threat of more severe and frequent natural hazards. A long-term risk-based vision for disaster resilience is a must, and research has answers that we can all draw on.

We are experiencing longer and more severe bushfire seasons, with fires that are more difficult to control. Advances in technology will upscale fire service capabilities. Space-based........

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