PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES (NATURAL DISASTERS COMMITTEE) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (10:35): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991 and to make a related amendment to the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1990. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (10:35): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This is a bill that was previously introduced to the parliament and I completed my second reading contribution prior to the parliament being prorogued. I am reintroducing it so that the parliament can again consider the issue and debate. This particular bill introduces the concept of a permanent natural disasters committee to be established under the parliamentary committee system.

The house is well aware that I have, for some years, argued that the system that governs fire in South Australia needs to be closely scrutinised by both sides of the house because it is such a serious and complex issue. It goes to many issues regarding planning, training of volunteers, funding of equipment, the capacity to evacuate, road infrastructure, native vegetation clearance, house design, and communications strategies to families about bushfire plans and what to do in times of bushfire.

The house is well aware that my electorate is one of the worst bushfire districts in the state, if not Australia. Some in the CFS believe that some parts of the Mitcham hills are some of the worst bushfire areas in the world, given the volume of vegetation, the steepness of the terrain and the high level of population and assets—that is, houses—in the area, which means a high risk to the community.

I have introduced this concept a couple of times and I have accepted the argument put forward by the parliament's Natural Resources Committee, a bipartisan committee—and well chaired, might I say.

An honourable member: Tripartisan committee.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Tripartisan committee, sorry. I gave evidence to that committee on behalf of my electorate about the bushfire issue. That committee suggested in a report that there might be some merit, if there was to be a committee, in expanding the concept to more of a natural disasters committee so that both sides of the house could look at how prepared we are for earthquake or flood. I accept the argument that there will be other electorates that have a higher risk of other natural disasters than just fire. I totally accept that argument.

What this bill does is simply seek to set up a parliamentary committee on a permanent basis to look at natural disasters and it is dealt with under the Parliamentary Committees Act, and I am hoping the parliament and the government may agree with the proposition in due course.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Geraghty.