Bushfire education should be compulsory in schools, volunteer fire-fighters should be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses and insurers should focus on learning, not blame. These are just a few of the recommendations from a new report into bushfire prevention.

The national inquiry on bushfire management and mitigation – undertaken by the Council of Australian Governments after the 2002/03 Canberra bushfires – was completed in April last year. The federal, state and territory governments held on to it until last week.

The report comes only weeks after bushfires devastated parts of South Australia’s lower Eyre Peninsula and caused a damage bill of more than $26 million. Nine people died, livestock and properties were lost and the effect on local communities was devastating.

Insurance Disaster Response Organisation state co-ordinator Chris Newland says insurers have responded quickly by putting on extra staff to expedite claims processing and by liaising directly with relief agencies, “but the process of rebuilding will take many months”.

Releasing the report, Prime Minister John Howard said although bushfires can’t be prevented, the community can be better prepared to minimise their effect on life and property. “The report highlights the need for a better understanding of risk, a greater focus on mitigation and better co-operation across jurisdictions,” he said.

Mr Howard says eight of the report’s 29 recommendations have been implemented, including continued funding for fire-fighting aircraft and an emergency broadcasting agreement with the ABC.

State and territory governments will continue to use the report for future planning.