VPRS 9823 Legal Division Subject Correspondence Files: Bushfire Inquiry and Compensation Claims

This series comprises subject correspondence files which contain inwards and outwards correspondence maintained by the Legal Division of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV, VA 1002) from 1968 to 1982. The files document the policy of the SECV regarding compensation for individuals who lost property, goods or stock as a result of bushfires which may have been caused by faulty SECV installations such as power poles or lines.The inward correspondence in the files contains details about the insurance claims of individuals forwarded to the SECV by solicitors or insurance companies on behalf of their clients. The outwards correspondence contains the responses of the SECV solicitor, or the solicitors acting for the legal division, to the writs or claims.The high number of fires in 1977 resulted in the establishment of a Board of Inquiry into bush and grass fires which commenced in March 1977 and ended in June 1977. The main purpose of the inquiry was to address the causes and origins of major bush fires that occurred between January and February of that year. The inquiry was also required to investigate the adequacy and effectiveness of measures taken by the Government, agencies and individuals to guard against the outbreak of bush fires in rural areas. As part of the inquiry interested government agencies, organisations and individuals were encouraged to present statements and submissions. The SECV, The Forests Commission, the Graziers Association and other organisations all prepared statements.The findings of the Board of Inquiry identified faulty installations of the SECV as a cause of many of the fires. Consequently, the SECV reviewed the particular policies and practices concerning fire prevention, tree lopping and related issues.Records relating to the general policy of the SEC towards bush fire prevention are located in VPRS 8892/P5 and VPRS 8897/P1.