The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements will begin two weeks of public hearings on May 25 with an “e-hearing”.

The hearings will be conducted electronically due to COVID-19 social distancing measures and the proceedings will be live-streamed via the royal commission’s website.

The first phase of hearings will set the scene for the inquiry into natural disaster co-ordination and accountability arrangements. There will be a focus on the 2019-20 bushfire season, and the Federal Government’s responsibilities relating to natural disasters.

Daily themes and the list of proposed witnesses will be published on the royal commission’s website in the week prior to the hearings.