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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-03 Daily Xml
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BUSHFIRES

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. C.V. Schaefer:

That the Natural Resources Committee inquire into and report on any proposal, matter or issue concerned with bushfire.

(Continued from 8 April 2009. Page 1922.)

The Hon. DAVID WINDERLICH (17:42): I will make a few brief remarks. I support the Hon. Caroline Schaefer's motion that the Natural Resources Committee inquires into and reports on any proposal, matter or issue concerned with bushfire. I do not pretend to know a lot about bushfires. I missed the 1983 bushfire in Adelaide. I watched the 2005 Eyre Peninsula bushfire from the safety of Yorke Peninsula as a column of smoke. Therefore, I do not pretend to be any sort of an expert. However, a couple of things have become clear to me over the course of time and through recent debates on this matter.

First, bushfires at their worst constitute an absolute disaster not just economically and socially but also environmentally, which means that many of the debates about the protection of native vegetation become more complicated. If we do face very severe bushfires, they can create greater environmental threat and destruction than the measures taken to control them. It is not such a black-and-white battle, as is often thought, between bushfire control and the protection of native vegetation.

The second thing that has become very apparent to me is that this issue brings out very strong feelings and very strong opposing views. We have some people who are determined to defend native vegetation from controlled burning and so forth, and then we have people who see it as an opportunity to get rid of what they consider to be stupid restrictions imposed by unknowing and distant bureaucrats.

I think the advantage of referring this to the Natural Resources Committee is that we could have quite a dispassionate, objective look at the matter removed from this battleground by a committee that has a record of hard work and the production of good reports. I think that it is well worthwhile, and it would be good to get on with it and have some sort of recommendations well before the next bushfire season.

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (17:44): I thank the Hon. Mr Winderlich for his contribution. Given that there has been no other contribution to this motion, I take it that it is agreed to by all in the council. I thank everyone for their support.

Motion carried.

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