CFA leaders attempt to recall 'draft' submission to fatal summer fire inquiry

A new parliamentary report has revealed the CFA attempted to take back certain answers to the committee citing "executive privilege". (ABC News: Stephanie Ferrier)

A parliamentary inquiry into Victoria's fatal bushfires last summer has revealed the CFA attempted to recall an initial response to questions on notice, citing "executive privilege".

The inquiry has released the CFA's initial response as well as its replacement answers, which is significantly shorter.

The Country Fire Authority's leaders have accidentally exposed how short-staffed its stations were during last summer's fatal fires, following an "administrative error" during a parliamentary inquiry.

The inquiry into the fires, which claimed one life, destroyed about 250 homes and burnt about 400,000 hectares, was held in April and May, with a final report due to be published next month.

But a series of emails, released by the upper house Environment and Planning Committee, reveals the CFA tried to retract its initial 33-page submission claiming potential "executive privilege".

The committee yesterday chose to release both CFA documents.

The first CFA submission claimed there was a lack of funding for firefighting infrastructure and senior staff vacancies in the districts hardest hit by January's fires.

It also revealed the CFA had received around a third of the funding it asked for from the state government during the last three financial years.

"CFA has consistently raised concerns regarding not only the capacity of resources provided by FRV [Fire Rescue Victoria], but also the capability of those resources," the CFA's initial submission said.

The second, edited submission, did not include details about the number of staff that were not present during the fires.

At least 47 homes were destroyed in the fires at Harcourt in January. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

The CFA appeared at the inquiry's public hearings on May 1, and were given questions on notice.

On June 4 its response was emailed to the committee by CFA acting deputy chief officer Scott Purdy.

But according to correspondence released by the parliamentary committee, less than 24 hours later, Mr Purdy asked for the document to be "returned to the CFA".

He claimed due to his own administrative error "the submission was not complete and was a working drat (sic)".

Emails subsequently released by the committee showed CFA chief executive officer, Greg Leach, stated the first submission should be "disregarded" on the basis of "executive privilege", among other reasons.

On June 30, the CFA sent an updated, and much slimmed down,