Helen Haines has called for the federal government to create a "climate adaptation plan" to prepare for the effects of rising temperatures and more intense bushfires.
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As the North East burns in the Upper Murray, Alpine and King Valley regions, the Indi MP said scientists were warning that this crisis would happen again in the future.
"These bushfires that we are experiencing right now, and will continue to experience for the next couple of months, are of an intensity that is unprecedented and are more widespread than we've ever seen before," she said.
"The air quality during this period is again unprecedented."
Dr Haines said a considered and strong climate adaptation plan should look at how the army, agriculture industry, small businesses and health organisations can cope with disasters caused by heat and fires.
"The impact that has on immediate health of not only vulnerable people, but broader members of the population, at the time and into the future needs to be built into out strategies," she said.
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But she was not sure about the need for a Royal Commission into the bushfires.
"At the moment I haven't formed a view on whether we need a Royal Commission, whether that's the best approach," Dr Haines said.
"Perhaps we do, but a Royal Commission delays by at least 12 months many responses.
"I'm really focused on immediate responses from the government in terms of supporting our communities."
Farrer MP Sussan Ley also said she was not sure if a Royal Commission was the correct way forward, but assured people there would be an inquiry.
"We do need a discussion on have we manage this," she said.
"We are experiencing hotter, drier conditions, so we have to look at doing things differently."
She will propose to the government a new community-led response to fire management, where departments would have to listen to emergency organisations and indigenous land holders before making decisions.
"It's not reasonable to expect our fireifghters to fight a fire, but not have any input into how it's managed," Ms Ley said.
Part of her focus this week as Environment Minister has been on supporting the wildlife volunteers, with estimates that about one billion animals had been killed during the NSW fires.
