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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-17 Daily Xml
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VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:24): With the leave of the council, I move:

That the Legislative Council expresses its sadness at the tragic bushfires that devastated Victoria on 7 February 2009; extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who died or who are still missing; sends its condolences to all those affected by the fires; commends the selfless and heroic efforts of all emergency services personnel who have responded to the crisis; pledges its moral and practical support to everyone involved in the rescue and recovery effort and to the rebuilding of lives and communities; and, as a mark of respect to the memory of those who perished, that the sitting of the council be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

Today I join the Premier in the other place in moving this motion. South Australia and Victoria have both experienced extreme weather events this summer, pushing the mercury well above the old 100 degree Fahrenheit mark, and this has taxed our public transport and electricity networks. It has also put residents living in bushfire-prone areas on full alert. Whilst South Australia has, so far, been spared a major bushfire during this summer's record-breaking heatwave, in Victoria our fellow Australians have not been so lucky.

Ten days ago, on 7 February, high temperatures and dry winds combined to create what professional firefighters have described as a 'perfect storm' throughout Victoria. On that fateful day, bushfires broke out across our neighbouring state forming a deadly crescent from the Wimmera to the Yarra Valley and Gippsland. Like many Australians I was stunned and saddened as the death toll continued to climb, moving beyond Ash Wednesday and Cyclone Tracy proportions towards the worst natural disaster in post-war Australia.

Currently, I am advised that about 4,000 firefighters are battling some nine blazes throughout Victoria at this time. Sadly, the death toll currently stands at 189, with many more people still missing or badly injured. More than 1,800 homes have been razed. Farmlands, towns and hamlets, schools, shops and churches across Victoria have not been spared from the fury of this firestorm. Images of razed homes in towns such as Marysville, Churchill, Strathewen and Kinglake, burnt-out bushland and twisted and charred cars were beamed around the world and etched into the national consciousness.

Along with the aftermath of devastation on such a massive scale there have come stories of tear-choking sadness and individual and collective heroism. The destruction of homes, property, stock, wildlife and family pets was indiscriminate; the extent of the loss of life almost too difficult to comprehend. Amid this tragic loss were those who chose to stay and defend their homes and properties and those who were unable to flee to safety as the ferocity and speed of the blaze prevented any escape.

Our newspapers, radio and television broadcasts have recounted harrowing tales of death and uplifting stories of bravery. I am sure that all members join me in expressing sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the fires, and to everyone in Victoria who suffered a loss of some kind during this tragic week. Those who have died and those who have suffered remain in our thoughts and prayers. Victoria need not stand alone in its grief: Australians have, once again, been brought together by tragedy, united in our sorrow.

I am proud to say that South Australia has stood up during this desperate and despairing time to extend a hand. We moved not only to share their solace but have been spurred into action. While our volunteer firefighters have crossed the border to join the fight against these fires, ordinary South Australians have reached into their pockets and into their hearts. They have been moved to donate time, money and blood as well as ordinary household items, clothing, toiletries and other practical goods to assist the victims who have been left with nothing.

On behalf of the people of South Australia, the state government has pledged $1 million to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. In passing this condolence motion it is only right that we acknowledge the selfless actions carried out by emergency services personnel, both staff and volunteers. We applaud those firefighters and State Emergency Service staff who have travelled to Victoria to lend assistance in that state's time of dire need. These people, who put their lives at risk to fight to save the lives and property of strangers, are an inspiration to all Australians. More than 160 South Australian CFS, MFS and SES officers have been deployed in Victoria, as well as 40 St John Ambulance volunteers, a team of specialist forest firefighters and a range of forensic experts. Fifty firefighters (40 from the Country Fire Service and 10 from the Metropolitan Fire Service) returned home last Thursday after five days on the front line. Even as these weary volunteers stood down, a further 54 fire personnel boarded a flight to Victoria to take their place.

I am advised that more volunteer firefighters are on standby to take their place as required. South Australia has also deployed 40 specialist forest firefighters from the environment department and Forestry SA, along with SES volunteers. An Erickson air crane and 19 firefighting vehicles have been dispatched to Victoria. A team of South Australian forensic specialists also arrived in Victoria last week to assist in the bushfire emergency.

Alongside these extraordinary South Australians, ordinary members of the public have also played their part. As often happens when tragedy strikes, South Australians rallied to do what they could to provide speedy and practical support. Many South Australians simply were not prepared to watch the images on television and in the newspapers and stand idle.

South Australians may have felt helpless in the face of a human disaster of such a heart-wrenching scale, but that has not prevented many from helping in any way they can. Some literally rolled up their sleeves to donate blood for those hospitals treating the burns victims and other survivors. Fund-raising efforts have been launched; logistical teams, often cobbled together by volunteers, swung into action; and clothing, goods, money and other materials were gathered up and shipped across to those most in need.

Many Australians are lured by the beauty of our bushland and find comfort and tranquillity amongst the eucalypts. Speaking as a resident of the Adelaide Hills, I am well aware of the attraction of living in a bush setting. We must never forget that it is often the very traits that draw us to live in this seeming wilderness of gum trees and escarpments that pose such a danger. Complacency can be our downfall. Often in the past we have been touched by loss similar to that which now faces Victoria: Ash Wednesday in 1983, in which 28 people died in South Australia, and the 2005 Eyre Peninsula bushfires remain vivid in South Australia's collective memory.

As the Premier said in the other place, South Australia is incredibly fortunate not to have suffered a similar bushfire tragedy so far this summer, given the recent extreme heat. We can try to minimise the risk of living in bushfire prone areas with planning codes, building standards, action plans and a well-drilled force of firefighters, but we can never totally erase the intrinsic threat that emerges each summer when weather conditions conspire to turn our bush paradise into a tinderbox. On behalf of the people of South Australia, I join the Premier in pledging our continued support to help the survivors rebuild their homes, their hopes and their lives.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I rise to speak on behalf of my Liberal colleagues, although a number of them will make contributions during the afternoon. I offer my utmost sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones in this disaster. The stories which have unfolded over the past week are truly numbing. I think it is important to note that, as the condolence motion passed the federal parliament last week, the bushfires were lead stories on websites and major news agencies around the world. This truly has been a disaster that has shaken the whole world, not just our Australian community. One of my federal parliamentary colleagues indicated that question time was suspended in federal parliament last week, and the only time that has happened before was when the federal parliament sat during the Second World War. It certainly puts into context the significance of this terrible disaster.

I am reminded of the forecast prior to the day in question, and it was the first time I can ever recall seeing a South Australian town (Renmark) with the forecast temperature of 48°C. We have often heard of Moomba and other places in South Australia reaching that temperature but that forecast showed that the weather bureau was confident that it was going to be that hot the next day; in fact, it did reach that forecast temperature, which was an indication of the risk that these conditions would pose to both South Australia and Victoria. We were very lucky in South Australia. The wind speeds and the timing of the change were such that we did not see the same extreme weather conditions here in South Australia, notwithstanding how hot it was in the Riverland.

The scale of destruction of homes, businesses, loved pets, personal possessions and entire communities is so vast that it is difficult to comprehend. I am reminded of a story I read in The Australian last week where a family had returned to a house that they had escaped from with their lives. They rescued a young pup but, sadly, their old family dog could not be found at the time. When they returned to their home, they found the remains of the old family dog under his favourite chair where the father of the family always sat.

I am sure those of us who have loved ones and pets can understand how difficult that must have been. The number of lives claimed in the Victorian bushfires, as the Leader of the Government said, is currently 189, but it is said that the number is expected to grow significantly, and many more people will not be found because of the ferocity of the fires. With almost 200 lives lost and over 1,800 homes gone, the extent of the disaster is overwhelming. It is the greatest natural disaster our nation has ever experienced.

It is hard to comprehend that one of the towns worst hit, Marysville, lost 100 of its 500 residents. It is a loss beyond comprehension that 20 per cent of a community would just simply be gone. We know that 7,000 people have been displaced as a result of these fires. One Kinglake resident attempted to describe the emotions of losing everything but the clothes they were wearing and still feeling lucky. Over the past weeks, many more tales of tragedy have been told than those of good fortune. We have seen images of shocked and bewildered residents assembling in areas close to devastated towns. Some have been reunited with loved ones, others have learned of the fate of loved ones and some, unfortunately, are still waiting.

Many of the shattered survivors are now returning to where their homes were, and the thought of rebuilding lives will be overwhelming—even more for those who have lost families. The bushfires have tested our ability to pull together as a nation. I join with the minister, the Premier and members in the other place and commend the generosity of this nation both at a business level and at a personal level. It has been really inspiring to see that, as a nation, we can still pull together to help others interstate who are obviously much less fortunate that we are.

Recent reports indicate that some 5,000 homes are offering temporary lodging, with around $50 million of donations to the Red Cross fund. Families whose properties survived have been using their homes to collect and distribute items to those who have lost their homes. Local communities and affected residents, many of whom have lost their homes and some who have lost their friends and family to this terrible tragedy, have shown remarkable resilience to care for one another. The debt that our nation owes to those in the emergency services is immeasurable. They have physically and emotionally laid themselves on the line to attempt to curtail this tragedy.

Many people say that these people are fearless, but they are only human. They felt fear but went in anyway and showed courage of the highest order. As a parliament we must make a commitment to offering our full support to the rebuilding of the lives of the people affected by these fires. Everyone must make a commitment to learning what we can from this tragic event. As a nation we must be compassionate, determined and practical in our endeavour to rebuild these communities. Today we thank those who have shown bravery in the bushfires, those who have offered support amidst the personal loss, those who still hold grave concerns for loved ones and for those who have tragically lost their life.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:38): On behalf of Family First, I rise to offer my deepest sympathy to the victims of the Victorian fires. To those who have lost loved ones, we are sorry and we grieve for your loss. To those who have lost homes and businesses, we are committed to doing whatever we can to help you rebuild. To the firefighters and emergency services workers (including those who travelled from South Australia), you have done so much and risked so much for the safety of others and we sincerely thank you. It gives me great hope to know that so many Australians are responding to this absolute tragedy.

As a nation we have now pledged or given more than $100 million to assist the victims of these fires. People have given supplies and they have given their time, sweat and tears. Businesses in this state have released their employees to help in the recovery effort. We are indeed a generous community, and I believe that our generosity and goodwill will help us overcome whatever tragedies and setbacks we may encounter in the future. Again, on behalf of Family First, I express my sincerest condolences to those who have fallen victim to this terrible tragedy.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:39): I rise to support this motion and to extend my condolences to those who have been affected by the utterly devastating bushfires in Victoria. I particularly express my condolences to those who have lost families, loved ones, friends and homes. I place on record my admiration and respect for those firefighters, police, other emergency service workers and members of the defence forces who have been involved in, first, responding to the worst bushfires in our history under truly horrendous conditions and, secondly, in assisting the community as it begins the long journey through to recovery.

While I was the emergency services minister there were many occasions when I saw our volunteers leave the comfort of their own homes and families to assist others in need, and this is what occurred in Victoria. Members of a largely volunteer force left their homes and families, many under threatening conditions, to respond to an event the magnitude of which we are only just beginning to comprehend. The stories coming out of Victoria only reinforce that our firefighters and emergency service workers are a unique bunch. I note from the media that many individuals, many of them CFA volunteers, are downplaying the role they played in saving lives and property. This is typical of the qualities I saw in our firefighters and emergency services workers during my period as minister for emergency services.

As we have already heard, there is a special bond that exists in the emergency services family, and it crosses our borders. When we were fighting our Kangaroo Island bushfires, CFA volunteers came across to assist us, and it is with great pride that South Australians are now able to, in some small way, assist the devastated communities of Victoria. There is a long tradition within the emergency services of assisting other states and territories in their time of need, and long may it continue. As I said, they are a unique bunch, and I know that all members will join me in acknowledging the tremendous job they are doing in Victoria, as well as here in South Australia.

As in any tragedy, especially one of this size, investigations need to be undertaken so that we can learn from what has happened. A royal commission has been announced. I also note that many questions have been raised in relation to policies and other issues. The policy of 'leave early; or prepare, stay and defend' is one that has come under some scrutiny. At this time we are rightly advised that until the recommendations of the royal commission are available it is still the best policy. We will all need to await the findings of the royal commission, and no doubt there will be lessons to be learnt, not just for Victoria but for all jurisdictions. Again, our hearts go out to those families and communities in Victoria that are experiencing tremendous pain at the moment.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:42): I rise to join the leaders and the minister to support this motion of condolence. I know that I speak for all Liberal members in this place in associating ourselves with this motion. Last night, I was on Mount Lofty looking out over the city. As the sun set, the horizon was red. The sky was cloaked with smoke from the Victorian bushfires as though grey in mourning. CFS firefighters had gathered, as they do every year, to remember the 13 CFS volunteer firefighters who have lost their lives in the service of the people of South Australia. The day chosen to remember, 16 February, is Ash Wednesday, a day when fires across South Australia and Victoria killed 76 people, including 13 Victorian CFA firefighters and four South Australian CFS firefighters. Twenty six years ago, Victoria and South Australia were united in loss and grief.

Again, we share the grief of Victorians, although on this occasion South Australia was spared the tragic losses they have suffered. On 7 February 2009, Victoria and South Australia faced historically dangerous fire conditions. By early afternoon a cool change had alleviated the fire threat in South Australia, but conditions persisted in Victoria and, by late afternoon, fires broke out which went on to claim at least 189 lives and 1,831 houses, and left 7,000 people homeless and tens of thousands of people traumatised. We express our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, friends, their homes, pets, livestock, property and communities.

As shadow minister for emergency services, I particularly want to associate myself with the motion, as it commends the selfless and heroic efforts of all emergency services personnel who have responded to this crisis. I pay tribute to the firefighters because they, too, are victims of the fire. We thank God that no firefighters lost their life fighting the fire but they are, nonetheless, victims. Not only have many of them lost loved ones and homes but also they have had to face the terror of the fires and witness things people would never want to witness—burnt bodies, unbelievable suffering and the inconsolable grief of survivors.

To take but one community, I remind the council of the stories of Marysville where, as my leader reminded the council, out of a population of 500, 100 residents are feared dead. Marysville has a local CFA with a dozen volunteer members. I understand that every member of the Marysville brigade lost their home. Glen Fiske, the captain of the brigade, and his son, Kellan, a firefighter in the brigade, lost their wife and mother, Liz, and their son and brother, Dalton.

Many firefighters looked the fury of the fire in the face at Marysville and will be emotionally affected for years to come. John Munday, a member of the CFA Acheron crew, fought the fire in Marysville, and he has spoken of scenes that will haunt him forever: a father standing in the middle of the road with two small children and a man begging the crew to save people trapped in their house on the hill. Mr Munday said that 500 Elvises and 1,000 tankers would have made absolutely no difference.

The remarkable survival of so many facing some of the worst fires in Victoria is a tribute to the professionalism of our volunteers. New equipment, better training and fire trucks with heat shielding I am sure all helped, but I am sure that the key factor in no lives being lost amongst the firefighters was the skill, courage and safety first culture of the CFA, whose crews planned safe, credible but flexible strategies to defend their communities.

Although no CFA firefighters or CFA support team members were killed on active service on 7 February, I want to honour the memory of Raye Carter. Raye was a 68 year old great-grandmother and the secretary of the St Andrews CFA branch. In volunteer firefighting terms, she was an auxiliary. Earlier in the day, she was helping to coordinate the CFA troops in the St Andrews Brigade. She returned to her property to protect her beloved goat herd. She was found dead the following morning, and her husband, Alan, is still recovering from serious burns. Raye was part of the CFA family, and we grieve her loss along with that of the many other victims.

I want to pay tribute to and thank the South Australian firefighters who have assisted in the past 10 days. I understand that the fourth rotation of South Australian firefighters leaves this afternoon, bringing to more than 300 the South Australians involved in the Victorian fire effort. CFS teams have been joined by firefighters from the MFS, the Department for Environment and Heritage and Forestry SA. These men and women are giving tangible expression to our solidarity with the Victorian community.

Service groups and welfare organisations have also swung into action to provide immediate assistance. We pay tribute to the more than 250 Salvation Army and 500 Red Cross volunteers who have worked rotating rosters to deliver over 13,000 meals to firefighters and displaced people. Thousands of South Australians have donated to the appeals, and I understand that yesterday the Red Cross appeal passed the $100 million mark.

While the past 10 days have been tragic and traumatic, they have demonstrated the resolve of the Australian people to pull together and support Australians in need. Let us remember that the need for support will not end when the homeless are housed and when communities are re-established. Thousands of people have experienced loss or trauma that will remain with them for the rest of their life.

Last weekend, a captain of a local CFS brigade recounted to me that he had met a man in town in that week who, whilst he had not lost loved ones or his home in the Ash Wednesday disaster of 1983, burst into tears when talking about it 26 years later. Those fires deeply affected him, and the recent fires will deeply affect thousands of Victorians for many years to come.

As we mourn the loss and express our condolences as a council and as a state, I close my contribution to this motion where I started: by recalling the prayers offered at yesterday's CFS memorial service, as follows:

Lord, we thank you for keeping Your volunteer firefighters safe in this fire season, and we ask that You bring them safely home each time they answer a call.

Lord, give your comfort and consolation to all who have lost family in this service or suffer from the effects of fire. May they receive strength from You to carry the burden and rebuild their lives.

Lord, who gives us the Australian bush, where fire is part of the endless cycle of regeneration, give us the wisdom to live in harmony with the bush itself and a sense of wonder of all creation. Amen.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (14:50): I rise also to support this condolence motion. Having grown up in a regional country town in Victoria, I understand the risks of living in areas of high fire danger. This, obviously coupled with the extreme drought and acute weather conditions, ignited a situation which can only be described as a shocking tragedy for the families and their friends in the areas that have been affected.

This has been a catastrophic event; it has exceeded Ash Wednesday and other major fires experienced in the past, and as yet the full extent of the damage and deaths is unknown. I have a former brother-in-law in the township Toolangi, which is near Kinglake, and he and his neighbours spent a very traumatic night sitting in a cleared paddock all night with wet blankets and wet towels draped over their heads as they watched the fire pass around them. They were very fortunate that they were spared from the fire, and so too were their homes in that area. They were some of the very lucky ones; there were so many in that region who clearly were not so fortunate as he and his neighbours.

I express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to those families and friends who have lost loved ones, to those who are injured and to those who are waiting for news of their family and friends. It is also essential that we acknowledge the wonderful efforts of paid and volunteer firefighters, SES and ambulance officers as well as all the other support workers and volunteers who have come to the aid of these communities.

I acknowledge the relief effort of South Australia's firefighters and volunteers who have assisted Victoria during this time. They have done a fantastic job protecting the community and the public. The humanity expressed within the wider community has moved me and obviously many others greatly. I acknowledge too the fantastic efforts of ordinary Australians who have come together to donate money, time and blood and generally lent a hand, often to neighbours and friends.

Every South Australian has been moved by this tragedy, as can be seen by their extraordinary efforts right across our community. It does not matter where we go or what event or function that we attend, there are collections being taken for the victims of these fires. The compassion and sentiment expressed show a prevailing strength and unity which I believe are uniquely Australian, and I know that with the help of their fellow Australians the Victorians will get through this disaster and go on to rebuild their lives.

The Hon. M. PARNELL (14:53): On behalf of the Greens in South Australia I too offer our sincere condolences to those who have lost family members, neighbours, friends, homes and property in the Victorian fires. The fires have certainly been an extraordinary event and unimaginable tragedy. We still do not know exactly what happened, and there are many lessons still to learn. In the meantime, the task of comforting, supporting and providing for the survivors should be a national priority.

As we followed the progress of the fires and their aftermath in the media, none of us can have failed to be touched by the enormity of what has happened, and all of us have been given cause to reflect on what is most important in our lives and communities. We have seen, heard and read about people who have lost everything they own, and as a nation we have responded with generosity and compassion, and we can be proud of that. With so many people affected, many of us will know someone who is involved, and there are many South Australian connections, including those that have been mentioned, with our firefighters going to the aid of our Victorian colleagues. A friend of mine is over there at the moment supporting his mum, who lost her home and her business in Marysville. She owned the local confectionery shop.

Informal networks here in South Australia and elsewhere are gathering momentum to support people who we know have been affected, and through such connections South Australians can support our friends, and even friends of friends and people we do not even know, with money and practical assistance. The generosity reflected in donations through official channels like the Red Cross is perhaps matched in some ways by the informal network of support being offered.

In Victoria our local Greens' branches are moving to adopt individual communities to try to lend some focus to the support effort. Other community organisations are doing likewise. I received a note just this morning from the Law Society, which is collecting contributions from its members. This is happening everywhere in Australia as people seek ways to show support for those who need it most.

It is hard to see too many silver linings in the dark clouds of this disaster, but the responses of individuals, professional groups, businesses, service clubs, churches, and the like, show that the Australian spirit of comradeship is alive in adversity. At a personal level, I know very well some of the areas affected by the fire. In the early 1980s I spent time living in Yea—I was that town's only lawyer. That included acting for the local shire council and dealing with development approvals, pine plantations, houses and farming matters. The area included the growing Kinglake region and small communities such as Flowerdale. I travelled through these areas every week, and it is highly likely that many of my former clients have perished and many will have lost property. I doubt whether the house I lived in between Yea and Murrindindi is still standing.

Listening to many of the survivors tell their stories, it is clear that one motivation many had was a desire to live in the bush—the so-called tree change. For some the dangers clearly were not recognised; for others the risks were known and a balance was struck between personal safety and the joys of being surrounded by bush and wildlife. But, clearly, the Victorian fires exceeded all our understanding of how fires behave and the appropriate strategies to deal with them. I heard one Victorian fire officer say they have a risk scale of one to 100 for rating bushfires, but these fires were of a magnitude of risk closer to 300. That meant that even the best prepared properties were lost.

It is inevitable that with passions running so high in the aftermath of the fires there will be many angry responses. Arson is suspected in more than one of the fires. But, whether born out of anger or frustration or even opportunism, we are starting to see attacks many of which are ill-informed and prejudiced. For example, those involved in town planning, vegetation management, building standards or conservation have come under attack in recent days because many people need to find someone they can blame. On the whole, however, most people are focusing more on preventing such a disaster happening again. People are asking legitimate questions.

If only we had cleared bigger firebreaks, if only we had had underground bunkers, if only building standards were tougher: these issues need to be considered very carefully and objectively, and that is why the royal commission announced by the Victorian government will be such an important process. It will need to deal with not just how the fires started but what could have been done to prevent them and also how well the community was prepared to face them. So, let us hope that the tragic loss of lives and property that has come from the Victorian fires will lead to some real improvements as the royal commission process gets under way.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:59): I rise briefly to support the condolence motion. There are no words that I can say that will ease the pain of those who lost their lives and of the loved ones who are grieving at the moment for those who passed away. Our hearts certainly go out to them. I place on record my personal appreciation of the efforts of people, including volunteers, from South Australia—SES, CFS, MFS and SAPOL. I include particularly those involved in the forensic side of it, because it is an incredibly difficult area of work, and they are over there at the moment and need to be acknowledged as well. The recovery work is almost more difficult, from my experience, than when you are in the middle of an horrendous bushfire situation like that. Whilst some of us have been involved in extensive bushfires like Ash Wednesday—and I and anyone else involved in those fires have never forgotten it—not all the lessons from that have been learned. I hope that out of the royal commission will come a positive legacy in that all parliaments and governments in Australia will learn from this tragedy. The National Bushfire Research Centre is also doing a great amount of work in relation to the bushfires in Victoria.

I put on the record the following comments in the hope that at some stage the CFA will read the comments made by members of this parliament. The firefighters who fought the bushfires in Victoria should be very proud of what they achieved, and they should hold their heads high and not blame themselves and feel that they did not do enough. As a former minister for emergency services, I acknowledge that in recent years a superb effort has been made to improve equipment to better fight bushfires. However, the fact is that, when we have bushfires like those experienced in Victoria, they cannot be contained, no matter what resources are available. All anyone can do is try to protect those properties where there is a chance that they can be saved.

My final point is that for many people it was an experience they will never get over, which is something that was touched on by the shadow minister for emergency services. I acknowledge the generosity of all those people who have made donations to the bushfire appeal, and I congratulate them for it. I trust that the money raised will be distributed properly, fairly and equitably.

Because of the intensity of the fires and the damage to the top soil, it will take years for some of the farmers to regrow their pastures. There needs to be ongoing support, and I hope that all members contribute in their capacity as members of parliament.

Premier Brumby did a brilliant job in a very difficult set of circumstances, and we should let it be known to the government and the parliament of Victoria that we will provide ongoing support to these people. It would be very easy for us to forget this event in a few months, but their tragedy, pain and heartache will go on for years, if not decades. I strongly support this most important motion.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:02): I also rise to offer my condolences to the people of Victoria. Like most other South Australians and Australians, I sat in front of the television watching this tragedy unfold. I found it very difficult to comprehend that lives could be lost and towns could be completely wiped out in a split second. We have heard stories about people having less than five minutes to get out of their homes to try to make a getaway, and some of those people lost their life whilst they were fleeing. The loss has been so great that it is very difficult to get our head around it.

However, for all of that, we have heard stories of bravery. We saw husbands and wives and mothers and sons re-united. We also saw that here in Australia, in a time of great tragedy, we never lose that Australian mateship. We do rally to each other's aid, and that is something we should all be very proud of.

I also offer my congratulations to the Country Fire Service workers who risked their life, and I want to send them a message that just knowing they are there doing what they do with the spirit with which they do it gives us all a sense of comfort. I will not go on, because other members have gone over the stats and have put on the record everything that needs to be on the record. I am sure that we all agree that our hearts are heavy and that our sympathies are with the people of Victoria. As the Hon. Robert Brokenshire said, we cannot forget this tragedy in a few months because it will probably take many years for people to recover.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:04): I support the condolence motion, and I would like to associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the Leader of the Government and the Premier in another place.

We all know how tragic an event like this is and the number of people who have been affected, and we offer our condolences to the families of those people who have lost loved ones, property and so on. I also commend those who played such an important role in fighting the fires. I think a number of members have mentioned Ash Wednesday. I think yesterday was the 26th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, yet we can still recall that tragedy so clearly. I grew up in the South-East and, even though we were in an area that was not as severely affected by the fires as many other areas, I certainly remember the trauma of that day and the terrible impact it had for many years on communities in the South-East. I think we all feel great sorrow that other families and communities are going to feel those effects now and in the coming years.

I particularly want to commend all the firefighters and emergency workers who have worked to combat the fires and to clean up the aftermath and, in particular, those South Australians who have contributed. I know there have been quite a number of people from the South-East area who were quick to offer their help and who did a sterling job assisting in Victoria.

It is well known that the South-East has a certain affinity with Victoria, and Western Victoria in particular, due to its proximity and ties in many familial, cultural and sporting ways. I commend the firefighters from the area. I know that a number of sporting and community groups have been very active in fundraising and offering their support. I commend the motion to the council. We honour the memory of those who have perished and commit them to God's care. We offer our condolences to their families, and our best wishes for recovery and healing in the future.

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (15:06): I also support this motion. As many of you know, my experience with bushfires was with the Eyre Peninsula bushfires and people I knew who lost their lives, their homes and their properties. For sheer scale and size this terrible tragedy in Victoria makes the Eyre Peninsula bushfire look small, and yet the human tragedy is much the same.

The effort of recovery is only just beginning. We can feel great sorrow for those who are left behind and great sympathy for those who must have died in the most unimaginably horrific and frightening circumstances. However, for those who are left, the recovery process is just beginning. The landscape will recover and people recover on the surface but, underneath, they will carry the scars of these burns for the rest of their life.

I commend the volunteers who fought the unfightable, the unwinnable, fight. This was a bushfire beyond our imagination. As described by so many, it was actually a firestorm. Someone described it by saying that the sky was burning. It moved so quickly that it was not a defendable fire, and we perhaps should thank God that as many survived as actually did.

The logistics of this recovery are almost incomprehensible. I keep thinking about those who are donating. Many semi-trailer loads of fodder have already been donated to help keep stock alive. My experience tells me that, no matter how much fodder is sent, there are no fences and nowhere to keep the stock. We send clothes but there are only so many clothes that people can wear; there are no wardrobes, cupboards or houses to keep them in. We send pet food but many of the pets are dead. We send furniture but there are no homes to put the furniture in.

On Eyre Peninsula, in the end, we had to get shipping containers to put some of the donations in because there was nowhere to store anything. Everything you touch is black and filthy and smells. It is either, ironically, smoke damaged or burnt and charred or, for those lucky few who saved something, it is water damaged. Water tanks have melted; there is no water; there are no sanitary provisions. It is almost like a Third World country, and it will be for many months. The only positive out of this is that it restores people's faith in each other and brings out the best of community spirit in all of us.

If this tragedy has done only one thing, I think it has united us as one community and I hope that it will bring strength and comfort to those who are personally involved. I commend this motion.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:10): I also rise to support the condolence motion. I recall the 1981 and 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires during which I experienced firsthand the terror, fury and torment of fires raging towards Mylor in the Adelaide Hills, towards my parents' property, with winds of 60 knots and flames 50 feet high. We were fortunate, on that occasion, that we lost only fences and pasture, but other people lost a lot more. Certainly, the Victorians lost a lot more than we did in those fires.

I extend my deepest sympathy to the friends and relatives of all those people who died in the inferno last Saturday, and I also extend my thoughts towards those people who suffered injuries and property loss. I congratulate everyone involved in the firefighting exercise, which still goes on, and I commend the recovery action that is now taking place. I hope that all victims of the Victorian fires are treated with compassion and sensitivity in trying to rebuild their lives.

The PRESIDENT (15:12): I take this opportunity to support the motion. On behalf of my family, all members of parliament, all parliamentary staff and retired members, I pass on condolences to those who lost loved ones. I congratulate all the volunteers—the firefighters, emergency services and police—the general public who make the sandwiches and feed the firefighters, and all those charity workers who organise charity events in order to raise money, particularly the Salvos, the Red Cross, St Vincent DePaul and many more.

I also take the opportunity to say well done to the Queensland flood victims who raised a lot of money, some of whom gave donated money they received after the floods to the victims of the fires in Victoria. On behalf of all the staff of Parliament House, I hope the wounds heal in the years to come; I know that it will take a long time. To all those Victorians who have lost loved ones, pets and homes, may you have much more luck come your way in future years. We hope that Victoria recovers from this and that people rebuild. I hope that people prepare better in the future for such things, especially residents of the Adelaide Hills and those who live in the bush.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.


[Sitting suspended from 15:15 to 15:45]


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