Nixon made 'grave oversight' on Black Saturday

27 May 2010, 3:30 pm   -   Source: AAP/SBS
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Christine Nixon left the state control centre to go for dinner as the Black Saturday bushfires raged (AAP)

Christine Nixon left the state control centre to go for dinner as the Black Saturday bushfires raged (AAP)

It was an "oversight of grave proportions" for ex-Victoria Police boss Christine Nixon to leave the control centre on Black Saturday the bushfires royal commission has heard.

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It was an "oversight of grave proportions" for ex-Victoria Police boss Christine Nixon to leave the state control centre as the Black Saturday bushfire disaster unfolded, the bushfires royal commission has heard.

Ms Nixon showed an unrealistic view of the leadership that was required on the day, senior counsel assisting the commission Jack Rush QC said.

He slammed Ms Nixon for returning home and going out to dinner at the time the biggest disaster in Victoria's history was unfolding, saying it was "entirely inconsistent" with her role as chief commissioner of police, deputy co-ordinator in chief of emergency management and state co-ordinator of disaster planning.

"To leave without ensuring that a responsible person was in place on location to manage the inevitable consequences of the disaster unfolding, we say is an oversight of grave proportions," Mr Rush said.

"Ms Nixon herself we say has demonstrated by her evidence an unrealistic view of the leadership that is required at the crisis that developed on the seventh of February.

State's biggest disaster unfolding

"It is not unrealistic to expect the state's most senior leaders to have an engagement and involvement and dedication to the unfolding disaster."

He said neither the state or deputy co-ordinator of Victoria's disaster plan was in charge between 6pm and 8.50pm on Black Saturday, "as the greatest disaster in the history of the state unfolded".

Earlier, Mr Rush said the intense examination of emergency services leaders including Country Fire Authority boss Russell Rees did not aim to claim scalps.

Mr Rush said every witness at the commission was subjected to the same scrutiny.

He said February 7, 2009 called for "authoritative leadership".

No hunt for 'sacrificial lamb'

"It is right and proper in the context of 173 (deaths) that the exercise of leadership is scrutinised and exposed," Mr Rush told the commission.

He said subjects were not questioned in pursuit of a scalp, or a sacrificial lamb, or because the public needed a scalp.

Mr Rush said there was a failure in relation to accountability and responsibility of leaders on February 7.

He said management at the state control centre on the day was "passive" and "lacked initiative".

Ms Nixon came under scrutiny at the royal commission after it was revealed she left the state control centre after 6pm on Black Saturday, after learning people would die as a result of the fires, to have dinner with friends at a North Melbourne hotel.

The hearings are continuing.

 

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