Does fuel reduction burning make us safer?

The fire season is changing across Australia, becoming hotter, drier and longer. The evidence about the best ways to protect lives, property, and the environment is changing too. While fuel reduction burning has become a vital tool in the arsenal for land managers in every state and territory, some are now questioning whether we are doing it right - or whether we should be doing it all.

The Burning Conversation was recorded at the Royal Society of Victoria on 21 September 2026.

Speakers:

Professor Trent Penman Bushfire risk modeler and Team Leader of FLARE Wildfire Research at the University of Melbourne

Dr Phil Zylstra Adjunct professor, Curtin University and the Australian National University

Gregg Borschmann (host) Writer and oral historian, Driector, Talking Country