Lawyers for the Victorian Government at the Bushfires Royal Commission are supporting recommendations for an overhaul of the controversial “stay or go” policy.

The Government has embraced the concept of life protection over property protection as recommended by counsel assisting the royal commission. This is at odds with the “people save houses, houses save people” philosophy up till now at the heart of “stay or go”.

Under changes to the policy, “leaving early” will be more clearly explained by fire agencies, evacuation trigger points identified and an emphasis put on the limitations of houses as protection.

Outside the hearing last week, Victorian Premier John Brumby said that while “stay or go” needs refinement, forced evacuation is not an option.

Mr Brumby is standing by CFA Chief Officer Russell Rees, who was strongly criticised by lawyers assisting the commission who said the CFA had failed to issue timely, sufficiently or relevant warnings on February 7.

The royal commission heard the chief officer did not know about maps that would have allowed warnings to be issued hours before towns such as Kinglake and Marysville burned.

The lawyers called for a more flexible CFA management structure and recommended that the chief fire officer be legally obliged to issue community warnings based on fire predictions and that more pressure be put on the authority to provide them.

Mr Brumby said his government is open to reinstating public fire refuges, but this could not be done in time for the next bushfire season.