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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-28 Daily Xml
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Fire Danger Rating System

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:26): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister inform the house about South Australia's involvement in developing the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System and how it assists communities to be bushfire ready?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (15:27): Just in time. I thank the member for Giles for his question. Mr Speaker, as you would no doubt know in your own electorate, fire danger ratings describe the potential level of danger created should a bushfire start. This is vital information provided to the community of South Australia to inform them of actions to take to protect themselves, their properties, their dependants and their animals.

While we have had fire danger rating systems in the past, this new Fire Danger Rating System has been superseded by the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS). This new system is critically underpinned by decades of updated information and fire science. It simplifies our call to action for community members and, most importantly, creates a truly national set of ratings.

Globally, we are now living in a time when unprecedented natural disasters are now becoming the norm. We know that Pakistan is experiencing the most severe flooding in the country's recent history. Sadly, this disaster has taken the lives of at least 1,500 people, including over 550 children. Beyond this, the UNHCR estimates that 7.6 billion people in Pakistan have now been displaced by these floods. Across in California, CAL FIRE reports their state is continuing to experience longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change. Since the beginning of 2020, CAL FIRE has reported over seven million acres burned, with 15,621 structures damaged or totally destroyed and, tragically, 45 lives lost.

Further to this, the European Forest Fire Information System indicates that forest fires have burned a record of 860,000 hectares in the EU so far. Stark numbers of fires have also been recorded. This year so far, in Hungary there has been 25 times the average annual number of fires; Romania, 14 times the average number of fires; and Germany, eight times more. Disasters are more prolific, they are more catastrophic, and South Australia is not immune from that whatsoever.

Just recently we have seen the Kalka-Pipalyatjara fire, burning well in excess of 45,000 hectares. This fire, in what feels like the early throes of spring, reminds us all that we need to be prepared and ready for the first sight of fire across our state.

AFDRS is providing improved information behind fire danger predictions. This includes a more considered reflection of vegetation fuel types across Australia's landscape to better predict fire behaviour, further conditions through more comprehensive data and, in turn, this increases confidence in predictions and improves management outcomes. This is better for all communities. Better science and better predictions lead to better proactive fire management and better firefighting outcomes, thus improving safety for all.

While the science behind the AFDRS is vitally important, this science is futile if it cannot be communicated to community members so that they know what they need to do in the event of a moderate, high, extreme or catastrophic day. Moderate means plan and prepare. High means be ready to act. Extreme means take action now to protect life and property. Catastrophic means for your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.

Our state can be particularly proud of this component of the AFDRS, as it was our own Country Fire Service that led the comprehensive national social research study in relation to community understanding of fire danger ratings and associated messages. While emergencies and disasters are becoming more prolific and more extreme, we are becoming a smarter and more informed community to tackle these challenges.

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