“The immediate [media] reporting is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

“Really, the big issue is the impact of climate change and bushfires, not only in the immediate deaths, but also in the long-term [post-traumatic stress] and mental health issues ... which, I think, are just as significant and affect a lot more people.”

To tackle this, Duckett, a former head of the Grattan Institute’s health program, called for greater investment in local communities.

“It’s all very well to have a volunteer fire brigade that responds immediately, but you have to have the local support networks in place after the bushfire passes,” he said.

Duckett agreed with the Monash study that lingering physical respiratory health problems were a significant bushfire-related issue that could lead to thousands of deaths.

Loading

“This is not the first report saying this sort of thing, but each of the previous ones have to some extent been ignored [by government],” he said.

The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 killed 34 people from direct causes and another 417 from longer-term consequences, the study says.

One of the deadliest consequences of bushfires is the fine-particulate matter in smoke that can travel vast distances and is linked to higher mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Around the world, about 340,000 deaths a year are traced back to bushfire smoke.

The Monash University-led research found reducing bushfire risk by 10 per cent, for example, could save $11 million in healthcare costs and $1.9 billion in GDP.

Ademi said this could be through improving fuel reduction, but also required greater climate change mitigation.

“Individual actions are not enough for bushfires,” she said. “We need urgent involvement of government, not just for the bushfires, but also to speed up implementation of green and sustainable technologies.”

The study, which Ademi co-authored, noted: “Bushfires are a natural part of Australia’s ecosystem, but the frequency and severity of bushfires in Australia has been increasing, due in part to climate change.”

Cardiologist Stephen Nicholls, who leads the Victorian Heart Hospital at Monash University, said climate change and bushfires were both increasing heart problems.

“We’re certainly seeing more patients after COVID and then when you get the effects of climate change, and bushfires, and the stress associated with all of that, there are lots of factors that will result in the likelihood that we will probably see more people with heart disease,” he said.

With AAP

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.