The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements will not “point fingers or apportion blame to any jurisdiction, government or individual,” the inquiry’s opening hearing was told on Thursday.

During a ceremonial hearing conducted online due to COVID-19 social gathering restrictions, chairman Mark Binskin formally opened the inquiry.

The first phase of hearings, also to be held online, will take place next month, with the six-month investigation charged with delivering its final report by August 31 – before the start of the next bushfire season.

The royal commission has been tasked with examining the response to the recent bushfires, as well as floods, cyclones and earthquakes.

Phase 1 of the inquiry will focus on the Federal Government’s role in disasters and whether it should have “clearer authority to act in the national interest.” Subsequent hearings, slated to begin in late June, will look at co-ordination with state and local governments.

Senior counsel Dominique Hogan-Doran says measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly impacted the work and planning of the royal commission and the “logistics are proving demanding.”

Royal commission members visited fire-affected communities across Australia in March, speaking with small groups representing fire-affected communities. Those forums were suspended due to health advice limiting public gatherings.

Australia’s extreme hot and dry summer, which saw about 1.6% of the continent burn in deadly and unprecedented bushfires, was not unique and should be expected to reoccur, Mr Binskin says.

"With this as our starting point, it is this royal commission's task to learn from the catastrophic experience and consider how we can take a national and co-ordinated approach to preparation and response in the future."