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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-03-04 Daily Xml
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BUSHFIRES

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:26): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about bushfire readiness.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: In 2003, cabinet formally endorsed the recommendations of the Premier's Bushfire Summit. Several of the recommendations expressed the need for better management of native vegetation on public land, including the need for firebreaks and access tracks in national parks. These recommendations have not been implemented. In November 2005, following the Wangary fires, the Environment, Resources and Development Committee made comparable recommendations relating to the management of native vegetation on public land. My question is: given that it is five years since the Bushfire Summit, what action has the government taken to ensure that the government itself is bushfire ready in terms of bushfire risk on public land?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:27): I am sure that the reason that the Minister for Environment and Conservation and I tried to get up at the same time is that this issue affects both the DEH and me as the Minister for Emergency Services, and the Hon. Gail Gago and I work very closely together in relation to public lands. Of course, the DEH has its own crew, which is also part of the CFS. The honourable member refers to inquest findings. I can say that, following the findings of the Deputy Coroner—

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On a point of order, Mr President, the minister says that I referred to inquest findings: I did no such thing.

The Hon. Carmel Zollo: Yes, you did.

The PRESIDENT: The minister is answering the question. The minister will answer the question in the way she sees fit.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Thank you, Mr President.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: She is obviously answering a different question because—

The PRESIDENT: Order! There is a point of order.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: You do not know what I have said yet. Calm down!

The PRESIDENT: The minister will answer the question as the minister sees fit.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will cease to confuse the opposition.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I am surprised that the honourable member opposite tried to stop me from speaking, given that I had hardly started. Clearly, the current Fire and Emergency Services Act provides for a number of exemptions under the regulations concerning clearing around dwellings and the creation of fuel breaks. In addition, there are exceptions for clearance work by CFS officers in emergency situations.

The honourable member may not be aware of it, but the Native Vegetation Council Subcommittee, which has representatives from the CFS, the DEH and the Local Government Association, was established to ensure timely approval of native vegetation management plans for fire management and other related issues, including, of course, a rapid response for urgent matters. It has a delegation from the Native Vegetation Council to progress applications and fire prevention plans. The honourable member may be aware that Andrew Lawson, the deputy of CFS, is on that committee, and it has already dealt with a number of applications, including for Port Lincoln.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I thought it would be useful for the honourable member to know exactly what we do and do not do. As I said, the Fire and Emergency Services Act provides powers for firefighters at the scene of a fire or other emergencies to undertake any action that appears necessary for the purposes of protecting life and property, despite the fact that the action may result in damage to any aspect of the environment.

I thought the honourable member spoke about the Wangary inquest, or mentioned something about it.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: I said, 'In November 2005, following the Wangary fire'. I didn't mention the word 'inquest'.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Well, this is following the Wangary fires. The honourable member is very excitable. Following the findings of the Deputy Coroner—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I think he is trying to move up along that bench, Mr President. I can advise the chamber that, following the findings of the Deputy Coroner, a code of practice for the management of native vegetation and bushfire prevention is being developed according to the recommendations of the Deputy Coroner. The code is being developed through the Native Vegetation Council and will provide for an effective and consistent approach to the management of native vegetation and bushfire risk. It will also help to clarify private and public landholders' responsibility for the management of native vegetation.

There were a number of recommendations post Wangary in relation to the role of the DEH, and a number of subcommittees have been formed. As I have said on other occasions in this chamber, they are working together. We have a number of task groups that are working together and they will report back, I expect, towards the end of this month. Then we will be in a position to advise the community and the chamber in relation to the DEH.

As I have said before, the DEH clearly works very closely with the CFS for very obvious reasons. A great deal of our state is under public lands and, of course, we need to ensure that that is properly managed.

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