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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-11-26 Daily Xml
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Alert SA App

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (15:45): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister inform the house about enhancements to the Alert SA app for this high-risk weather season?

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (15:45): As the house is aware, all districts in South Australia are now in fire danger season, with the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and Adelaide metro recently joining the rest of the state. The decision to bring forward the fire danger season for these three districts by two weeks was prompted by hotter and drier conditions, highlighting the increased fire danger risks facing South Australians and emphasising the importance of all being prepared for the upcoming fire danger season and informed about the risks that we face.

I want to specifically highlight the exceptional action of the member for Waite in preparing and supporting her community. She is a senior firefighter in the CFS, and I had last night the opportunity to join her at a community forum at a local primary school. It was clear to me that her community are particularly appreciative of all her efforts, not just at this particular forum but at many others that she has run, as I say, to prepare the community for the fire season. I must say, it was particularly useful as well to hear some insights about her own firefighting experiences.

In terms of the updated app previously dedicated to bushfires, it now includes alerts for severe weather, heatwaves, urban fires—

The Hon. V.A. Tarzia: The one you scrapped.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition can leave until the end of question time. Your constant interjections are peaking on the annoying scale past 11 out of 10.

The honourable member for Hartley having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: —and hazardous materials, bringing together the state's emergency services agencies on a dedicated multihazard platform. Users can access timely information, as you are aware, Mr Speaker, about fire danger ratings, total fire bans, emergency services websites and vital ways to prepare for an emergency. Cross-border fire warnings also feature on the app for the first time, with notifications now being issued for fire warnings within 100 kilometres of neighbouring state and territory borders.

This investment and upgrade supports the commitments in the 2023-24 state budget of $26.7 million for an expanded aerial firefighting fleet, which last fire season contributed to the CFS not losing a single home or structure during a rural fire. These appliances also support the immense efforts of our remarkable volunteer group, who in the last financial year gave over 220,000 volunteer hours.

Further to the matters that I have raised, I am pleased to say that we have also recently finalised round 3 of the Farm Firefighting Unit grants. Since the return of this important grant program in 2022, the government has funded over 1,200 pieces of equipment, including firefighting units, UHF and CB radios—of course, as you might anticipate—and fire-rated personal protective clothing.

South Australia Police are also adding to the effort through their recent 2024 launch of Operation Nomad. This fire danger season, South Australia Police will work with other agencies to prevent deliberate, reckless and negligent acts that may cause bushfires. Throughout the season, officers will increase police patrols in high-risk bushfire areas, monitor potential arsonists and regularly visit those identified as being a risk, especially on days of extreme or catastrophic fire danger rating.

Last year, police investigated 81 suspicious fires; of those, 28 were determined to be deliberately lit, with nine people arrested, two people reported and 40 expiations issued. This year will also see police security officers conducting highly visible patrols and observations in areas of high fire danger risk. These officers will complement frontline police patrols, attend incidents and be able to identify and report suspicious behaviours to SAPOL communications.

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