Motions

Greece, Wildfires

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. C. Bonaros:

That this council—

1. Expresses its deep regret at the loss of life of almost 100 people in Mati, east of Athens, from devastating forest fires;

2. Acknowledges that at least 187 people were injured in the blaze, including 23 children, and many more people remain missing;

3. Recognises the efforts of firefighters, the coastguard and volunteers to save lives;

4. Praises the efforts of the Greek Orthodox community in South Australia to raise funds to contribute to the relief effort in Mati; and

5. Offers its deepest sympathies to Greek-Australians who have lost loved ones in Mati.

(Continued from 1 August 2018.)

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (17:39): I rise to echo and support the sentiments expressed by my honourable colleagues in support of the motion brought to this place by the Hon. Connie Bonaros, asking that we acknowledge those who are suffering as a result of the wildfires in Mati. As South Australians, we know the real devastation that fires can cause. The empathetic response from members across party lines and across the South Australian Greek, Cypriot, Italian, Jewish, Islamic, African and Indian communities highlights how solidarity and compassion remain the only way for us to solve our common problems.

South Australia is home to so many from a vast array of vibrant and diverse cultures. Our multicultural community thrives when we focus on our common goals rather than the differences that seemingly divide us. I commend all those present at the Greek Orthodox Community's Olympic Hall fundraiser for rallying behind the Greek-Australian community, including the Premier, Steven Marshall, and the opposition leader, Peter Malinauskas.

Out of the ashes of tragedy comes some joy, and this is an example of that joy in the community spirit. It is testament to the resilience and compassion that we can find in South Australia and that we hope for those in Greece. The destruction of at least two-thirds of the houses in the Marathon district, the degradation of the landscape, the hollowed-out cars and the charred villages illustrate how important these fundraising efforts are in ensuring Greece has the provisions necessary to rebuild after this tragedy.

I would like to add my wholehearted support for the firefighters and commend them for battling with gale force winds as they tried to control the blaze. Dimitris Stathopoulos, head of the union of fire brigade employees, called the fire a blowtorch that no-one could stop. We can learn ourselves the importance of investing here in urban planning and fire resources and making sure that those who live near such forested areas are well versed in evacuation procedures and preventative fire measures for their area.

The Greens, of course, have as our four pillars social justice and grassroots democracy, along with peace and nonviolence, and environmental sustainability. The efforts made for those victims in Greece are a perfect example of the kind of advocacy we stand for, and we commend anyone in this place who shows that leadership. From community groups to soccer teams to cultural centres to churches, South Australians have come together to alleviate the social, economic and emotional pain we have seen in Greece.

Here, whether we are fighting to save the Murray or drawing attention to outdated and unjust clauses in our health, social or environmental laws, or simply rallying the community to protect our wildlife, the Greens do support that grassroots democracy as a resource for making progressive change, so we fully support this motion.

I wish to send my deepest condolences to the Greek community, both there and in South Australia, as they mourn those who have lost their lives and livelihoods. The committee of volunteers has my complete support, and our party's complete support, as they continue to raise the much-needed funds for those affected by the fires. I commend the motion.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:42): The Hon. Rob Lucas has already indicated the government's support for this motion, and today I would also like to add my heartfelt support to the motion. When I learned about the fires in Athens, Greece, I made contact with the Greek Consul General here, Mr Andreas Gouras, straightaway and also contacted Bill Gonis.

There were plans to organise this coordinating committee meeting, which was scheduled on Monday 30 July 2018. I therefore joined the Premier of South Australia in attending the meeting to address the forum. I also contacted SAMEAC straightaway to ensure that Norman Schueler, the chair of SAMEAC, together with other SAMEAC members, was able to make time to attend the forum, because as a multicultural community our strength is well demonstrated. When we are in crisis, we must stand together as one big community.

It was reported in The Advertiser, of course, that the Greek fires tragedy is forging community spirit as ethnic groups unite in Adelaide to coordinate fundraising. Almost all the SAMEAC members attended: from the Italian community, the Jewish community, the Vietnamese community, the African communities, the Indian communities, the Islamic communities and the Chinese community. On the night, the Hon. Julian Stefani, a former member of the Legislative Council, offered his great help, assistance and advice, because he has helped many natural disaster fundraising appeals in the past, particularly in the Italian community. He offered his help straightaway and joined the board of the appeal.

I would like to also offer my condolences and deep sympathy to the Greek-Australian community and families who have lost loved ones in the Athens fire. I spoke to many Greek community leaders during the difficult times and they were certainly very grateful that so many community leaders in South Australia have come together to organise many, many fundraisers.

I will put on the record my thanks to Mr Andreas Gouras, Greek Consul General, Mr Bill Gonis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia, Mr Peter Piros, Chairman of Justice for Cyprus Committee, Andreas Evdokiou, President of Cyprus Community, and Ms Martha Ioannidis, President of the Executive Committee of the Messinian Association of South Australia. I would also like to thank the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Inter-communities Council of South Australia because they have organised so many quiz nights, soccer matches, afternoon teas and other fundraising efforts aimed at raising funds for the people of Athens, which have shown great solidarity from South Australia.

I would like to also take this opportunity to promote two upcoming fundraisers, if I may. There is a Greek Fires Appeal gala dance, which will happen on 14 September, organised by the Cyprus Community and the Australian Hellenic Medical Charity Incorporated. Get to that, if you can. There is a Greek Fires Appeal live concert happening at Woodville Town Hall on 21 September, so if members can get to that, that would be wonderful as well.

I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of the firefighters, coastguards, doctors, nurses, emergency personnel, social workers and volunteers who assisted in fighting the fire. I would like to give my compliments and praise the whole effort that was conducted by the Greek Orthodox community in South Australia. I commend this motion and thank the honourable member for moving this motion.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (17:47): I thank all honourable members who contributed to the motion, including the Hon. Rob Lucas, the Hon. Irene Pnevmatikos, the Hon. Tammy Franks, the Hon. Jing Lee, and my colleague the Hon. Frank Pangallo. I thank you all for your thoughtful and moving words honouring the 97 men, women and children who lost their lives as a result of the wildfires that devastated the seaside town of Mati, Greece, in July.

I have been told by a number of people in the South Australian Greek community in particular that they were moved by the speeches and the acknowledgement from this chamber, and the outpouring of support and sympathy for the many lives so tragically lost and to their families who continue to grieve following this horrific catastrophe.

When I moved the motion, I spoke of the solidarity of the Greek-Australian community throughout Australia and the broader migrant and local community in South Australia who have all united together to assist in the relief and recovery efforts in Greece. A stirring testament to that solidarity is the enormous efforts of the Greek Orthodox churches throughout Australia and the thousands of parishioners and broader community members who have so far raised over $630,000 in just over a month for the relief effort in Mati, which is quite a contribution if you consider the little money tins going around in churches.

The money is crucial as the people of Mati continue to count the devastating cost of the wildfires and begin the painstaking effort to make sense of what has occurred through a thorough investigation to help them learn valuable lessons and ultimately rebuild, taking whatever action is required in order to protect the Greek people from such a catastrophe in the future.

Currently, Johann Georg Goldammer, Director of the Global Fire Observation Centre, is in Greece leading the independent investigation into the wildfires. He has called for more effort to tackle the threats that fires are increasingly posing throughout the world. He said:

I think we all, including Greece, are entering an era that is determined by a number of factors, where these fires are becoming a bigger threat to all of us. And, indeed, this is where we have to look to develop visions, but also policies and strategies to deal with these issues.

Obviously, since the fires in Greece, we have seen catastrophic and multiple wildfires ravaging California, with the Mendocino Complex wildfire now the largest in the state's history, burning over 459,000 acres and coming on top of ruinous wildfires only the year before. Similar to Mati, the Californian wildfires have also claimed a number of lives.

I have spoken previously about how the tragedy hit so very close to home, not only because of my own heritage and close links to so many Greek-Australians, but also because in South Australia and across the nation, as Australians, we sadly are all too familiar with the utter destruction that bushfires can cause to the landscape, but most devastatingly the heartbreaking loss of life.

The tragic events in Mati and California are salient, sorrowful and stark reminders that Australia's bushfire season is almost upon us and that we must prepare to brace ourselves for a potentially dangerous fire season due to the current drought and dry conditions impacting many parts of regional Australia. We are no strangers to the serious consequences of bushfires here. Our nation's preparedness is at risk from climate change, as bushfire seasons increasingly lengthen and overlap with fire seasons in the Northern Hemisphere and the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves, storm surges, droughts, floods, cyclones and bushfires are already exposing our vulnerability, including many of our natural ecosystems.

Globally, the length of the fire weather season increased by nearly 19 per cent between 1979 and 2013. These longer fire seasons will reduce opportunities for controlled burning and increase pressure on firefighting resources, something we should all be very concerned about.

In January 2015, a severe bushfire in South Australia caught the nation's attention. The Sampson Flat bushfire caused devastation in the Adelaide Hills region. It raged for six days and destroyed everything in its path, including 12,500 hectares of land, 27 homes, numerous sheds and killed 900 head of livestock. The insured value of damage from those fires was $36.6 million. The economic impact of bushfires is enormous, due in no small part to the cost of bushfire management and suppression, as well as the loss and damage to infrastructure and businesses.

Finally, when I moved the motion I also spoke about the efforts of world-renowned Adelaide plastic surgeon, Dr Greenwood, who flew to Greece to treat burns victims with a skin repair technology he pioneered in Australia. Dr Greenwood is the director of the Adult Burns Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and in 2016 was awarded the 2016 SA Australian of the Year award for his world-leading work in burns treatment.

In Greece, Dr Greenwood assisted surgeons to treat the 10 most severely burnt patients from the Mati forest fires, using a biodegradable skin graft substitution called NovoSorb, which he pioneered with the CSIRO following the Bali bombings in 2002. He took 25 sheets of that with him to help in the recovery of the burns victims and had to obtain special exemptions for its use in Greece, where it had not been approved. It is a standout example of brilliant Australian-led innovation and expertise.

I will end by saying that there are two further events that the Hon. Jing Lee has just pointed out to us. On Friday 14 September, the Cyprus community and the Australian Hellenic Medical Charity will host the Greek Fires Appeal Gala Dance at the Cypriot Club with Dr Greenwood and Professor Andreas Evdokiou as special keynote speakers.

On 21 September, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia will be holding a Greek Fires Appeal concert in aid of the victims and their families. I encourage all members to participate, if they can, to raise much-needed funds to allow the relief effort to continue and to learn about Dr Greenwood's work, in particular, in helping the Mati burns victims. I thank you for your support.

Motion carried.