* Improving natural disaster management coordination - across all levels of government;

* Improving Australia's preparedness, resilience, and response to natural disasters - across all levels of government;

* The legal framework for the Commonwealth's involvement in responding to national emergencies and how that works with state and territory laws;

* Australia's arrangements for improving resilience and adaptation to climate change, and what can be done to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.

* The terms of reference notes the role of climate change, saying Australia must take action to address the "consequences of longer, hotter, drier seasons and severe weather events".

COMMISSIONERS

* It will be led by retired defence force chief Mark Binskin.

* He will be assisted by former federal court judge Dr Annabelle Bennett and climate expert professor Andrew Macintosh.

* They can make recommendations relating to changes in policy, law, or administrative or structural reforms.

* The probe will consider findings and recommendations from other inquiries relating to the 2019/20 bushfire season.

REPORTING

* Any interim reports will be submitted to the governor-general, with a final report due by August 31, 2020.

Australian Associated Press