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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-05 Daily Xml
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BUSHFIRE TASK FORCE

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:14): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT: The devastating bushfires that occurred in Victoria will be remembered as one of the darkest days in Australia's history. While it seems that the worst is now over, the grieving and rebuilding has just begun. As a government, it is important that we take steps to do all that we can to prevent a similar incident happening here in South Australia. We learnt lessons from the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983, after the Wangary fires in 2005 and from KI, and there is no doubt we will also learn lessons from these horrific bushfires.

South Australia is not impervious to a bushfire of this magnitude and the devastation that occurred in Victoria. Climate change and drought are altering the nature, ferocity and duration of bushfires. Today I announce the formation of a specialist task force, consisting of experts in various fields who will be working side by side to bring South Australia to a new level of bushfire preparedness. It will analyse key issues arising from the Victorian bushfires and look into immediate, medium and long-term solutions needed to improve bushfire management practices and strategies in South Australia.

The task force will be headed by CFS Chief Officer, Mr Euan Ferguson, with other members including: Department for Environment and Heritage Chief Executive, Mr Allan Holmes; SAFECOM Chief Executive, Mr David Place; MFS Chief Officer, Mr Grant Lupton; cabinet office Deputy Chief Executive, Ms Tanya Smith; State Recovery Office Director, Ms Ronnie Faggotter; South Australia Police Assistant Commissioner, Ms Bronwyn Killmier; Department of Planning and Local Government Deputy Chief Executive, Mr John Hanlon; and Deputy Under Treasurer, Mr Brett Rowse. The task force will consult other agencies such as PIRSA, DECS, SA Water, Native Vegetation Council and the Bureau of Meteorology and will report to state cabinet.

Fire behaviour and weather conditions across South Australia and Victoria on 7 February set a new frame of reference for fire management authorities. Usually the accepted fire danger index is in a range of one to 100, with 50 to 100 being rated as extreme. On 7 February, across South Australia and Victoria, many stations had forecasts of 120 to 300—in other words, off the scale. This is uncharted territory.

Our bushfire strategies need to be adapted to include a new 'upper extreme' risk and identify new and different actions to be taken to combat the increased risk factor. The task force will focus on:

defining 'upper extreme' bushfire risk and provide advice to those affected and what the community needs to do about it;

improving timely and accurate information to the community during emergencies and investigate new technologies and ways of providing up-to-the-minute information such as SMS;

identifying the new vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure which could be at risk of bushfire in 'upper extreme' conditions;

engaging with local community agencies to coordinate timely messages;

considering Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission findings as they emerge before the next bushfire season;

considering any evidence and lessons from the Victorian experience/royal commission as they emerge;

analysing our readiness for 'upper extreme' bushfire risk events;

revising the state's Bushfire Hazard Plan to take into account this new risk; and

developing standards for construction of bushfire bunkers.

Since the devastating fires in Victoria, the state government has already announced a review of current arrangements for managing the interaction of native vegetation and bushfire, with a particular emphasis on developments near urban areas and townships; a review of bushfire protection areas to determine whether the risk ratings need upgrading; and fast tracking the implementation of an all risk, telephone-based warning system.

While many of our bushfire policies have been developed over many years and have served us well, the Victorian bushfires have highlighted an overall need to re-examine strategies and policies. As I advised this chamber on 16 February, the state government will not wait for the outcome of the royal commission. If there is evidence that immediate changes need to be made to our bushfire policy, we will take the necessary action.

Since 2002, this government has implemented a number of important initiatives relating to bushfire prevention and we will continue to do so to ensure that South Australia has the most effective bushfire management practices in place.

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