Bushfire Smoke and Air Quality Strategy
Summary
The severe smoke from the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires revealed the complex health, environment, social and economic impacts of poor air quality in the ACT.
The Bushfire Smoke and Air Quality Strategy was a whole of government approach to better understand these relationships and improve our management of the impacts of smoke.
The Strategy guided the ACT Government’s approach to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant bushfire smoke events and our management of the smoke from woodfire heaters.
It mapped a wide range of policy areas including emergency management; regulation of environmental pollution; monitoring of air quality; public health advice, warnings and directions; work health and safety; building standards; and support for businesses and our community.
Progress of Strategy
A first report on the strategy was tabled in November 2023. It presented significant progress, despite interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2026, the Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water delivered a statement to the Legislative Assembly and tabled the Bushfire Smoke and Air Quality Strategy 2021-2025—Final Report. The report:
- highlights achievements against the Strategy
- provides reassurance on the ACT’s future policy direction in relation to wood heaters, as well as recent hazard reduction burns in NSW.
From a total of 20 actions detailed in the first action plan, 16 actions have been completed. Four actions are ongoing and will continue beyond 2025 as business-as usual activities of the government.
A transcript of the Minister’s statement to the Legislative Assembly can be found on the Legislative Assembly website.
The government will continue to improve its responses to climate change and severe weather events. As the city grows, the government will also look to transition away from expensive, polluting wood and gas heating and towards comfortable, well-insulated homes heated by clean electricity.