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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-13 Daily Xml
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Sampson Flat and Tantanoola Bushfires

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. T.T. Ngo:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges with gratitude the inspirational efforts of the emergency services staff and volunteers in fighting the Sampson Flat and Tantanoola bushfires which resulted in the declaration of a major emergency on 3 January 2015;

2. The dedication and professionalism demonstrated by SA emergency personnel and their colleagues from NSW and Victoria over the six days before the fire was contained, prevented much worse destruction and any loss of life; and

3. Also acknowledges the work of the many agencies, community groups and individuals involved in establishing and running the relief centres at Golden Grove, Sandy Creek, Willaston and later Gumeracha and those now still involved in the recovery phase led by the State Recovery Office and the wider community for their enormous generosity during and after the emergency.

(Continued from 6 May 2015.)

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (16:53): I rise very briefly to support this motion which is essentially official recognition of this chamber's gratitude and thanks for those who assisted during the Sampson Flat and Tantanoola bushfires. The courage, tenacity and bravery of emergency services staff shown during the Sampson Flat and Tantanoola bushfires is really something that is difficult to express in words. Having experienced personally the two Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1981 and 1983, I am constantly in awe of those who decide to put their lives on the line to protect not only themselves and the things they hold dear but also for the general benefit of the community. The fact that many of those involved in these incidents are actually volunteers, rather than career professional emergency service workers, makes their bold actions even more noteworthy.

I am still amazed that no lives were lost from these bushfires. This fact demonstrates that all South Australians have learnt from previous experiences and are more prepared for such circumstances. Whilst nobody wants to think about the worst-case scenario, it is vitally important for both the community and the authorities to be prepared.

The fact that no lives were lost also speaks highly of the professionalism and training of our emergency services. Some say we were lucky that no lives were lost. I say it was part luck and part preparation. That is not to say that we should rest on our laurels as improvements can always be made, but credit should be given where credit is due. The events of the bushfires have already been outlined in detail in this chamber and I will not repeat them. Instead, to all emergency staff and volunteers, I would just simply like to say a very sincere thank you.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (16:55): I echo the remarks of the Hon. Mr Darley and on behalf of Dignity for Disability place on the record our very sincere thanks to all emergency services workers involved in these bushfires. This issue is particularly important to me as a former resident of the Adelaide Hills and with my family still living in that area. It is a beautiful place to live, but the trade-off is some potential extreme fire events.

I have put my personal thanks on the record for that reason and also because my brother, Cody Vincent, is a volunteer firefighter with the Bridgewater CFS and was involved in fighting these fires and was certainly very dedicated to that cause. I have certainly seen the impact that being a CFS firey has had on Cody's life. I would not say that it has given him a sense of purpose, because he already had one, but I have certainly seen that increase since he has been involved with the CFS, so I am very thankful for that reason and also that my brother was returned safely after doing that important work.

The final point that I would make, as I have raised previously in this chamber, is that these bushfire events raised a number of access and equality concerns for people with a disability in South Australia. As members would be aware, Dignity for Disability is grateful to the CFS, and other agencies such as SAFECOM, for working constructively with us on these issues. I am sure that this collaboration will result in a better and safer South Australia. I would like to reiterate Dignity for Disability's thanks and gratitude to all involved in this important safety measure.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (16:58): I will be brief because I am on the public record many times over the years supporting or making statements about similar motions. I congratulate the Hon. Mr Ngo for the magnificent motion because it is so important.

Whilst the CFS, the SES, the MFS and allied emergency services and volunteers did do a very good job at the Sampson Flat fires, and I do not want to detract from the motion because Family First strongly support the motion, the thing that I find a little disappointing in the government putting up this motion is that it is put up at a time when they have plans for the CFS, the SES and other emergency services with volunteers that are against the wishes and the best long-term interests of those volunteers.

I would ask that the government have a serious look at strongly supporting the great work that they did with the Sampson Flat fires and fires in the South-East and the great work they do 24/7 for our community and that they also listen to the concerns of the volunteers and withdraw this draconian concept they have of a commissioner and a single fire service. With those few remarks, I thank the volunteers and their families and congratulate the honourable member in putting up this very important motion.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (17:00): I rise to support this motion and to commend the Hon. Tung Ngo for bringing it to the attention of the chamber. In remarking on the first aspect of the motion, I suppose I am very much with the Hon. John Darley, when he made reference to the two Ash Wednesdays in the 1980s, three years apart. As part of the Gawler River CFS Brigade I went and fought those fires on both occasions. While some of that voluntary service was in areas further south than the area of the fire that started at Sampson Flat, certainly the reports I heard of the fire this year in Sampson Flat, and the reports describing the various roads and areas that were being impacted, reminded me very much of areas in which I worked with other CFS volunteers in both 1980 and 1983.

Members interjecting:

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. G.A. Kandelaars): Honourable members, courtesy to those on their feet.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Certainly given the aspects of the country in which the voluntary firefighters had to combat these fires, I think very few people can contemplate the nature of the terrain.

Members interjecting:

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. G.A. Kandelaars): I remind honourable members to conduct their conference outside the chamber.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Thank you, sir, I appreciate that. I think very few people can contemplate the terrain that the CFS volunteers have to negotiate in fighting these fires. As I heard all of the reports in relation to people being up in that area for the length of time that that fire was of great concern (and, as we all know, that was for a number of days), it reminded me very much of combating that territory.

Certainly, we had inferior CFS units and inferior capacity in some instances to fight those fires. One of the things I will always remember is going around the banks of the Millbrook Reservoir—I am not sure whether it was in 1980 or 1983—which had been used for many years for running horses and I think for some sort of pony club events. We spent hours and hours putting out fires in horse manure, and then having to come back to it later because it has a habit of reigniting. I only say that because I think it highlights some of the things that volunteers do to protect the rest of the community. As I say, it is often in very difficult terrain, and we should never forget the fact that it is also life-threatening.

I remember the crew I was with in 1980. I have described it before in this place as flat country firefighters. We were used to fighting fires that were coming along flat country; we knew where they were coming from. But if you go up into that hills territory, you get rapid wind changes and you actually do not know where the fire is coming from. We were very lucky to get out of a place called Vimy Ridge, I think it was, where there was a rapid wind change.

It was terrible weather. It was very hot with gusty winds. We jumped in our truck to get out of the way of the fire and the driver turned the key and it went click, click, click. I will not add what I responded with, but I think a number of us were a bit concerned about that. Thankfully, the second time the driver turned the key, the engine started up and we got out of there. I have never forgotten that experience, even though it is now 35 years ago.

I pay great tribute to those who fought those fires, both the Sampson Flat fire, which was something that I could relate to very closely, and also the fires around Tantanoola, which were in different circumstances, where vast areas of forest were under threat.

I would also like to mention very briefly the reference to all emergency personnel and also the fact that we had colleagues come here from New South Wales and Victoria. I have not gone interstate with the CFS but I know that a number of our CFS people have gone interstate to assist with severe bushfires in the past. In many cases that has been at a significant disadvantage to people, but they do it because they know it can give great respite to the crews that are on the ground. I think we all know the amount of time that was spent by many people at the Sampson Flat fire in particular. When that respite comes it is worth its weight in gold.

The third part of the motion talks about the work of many agencies, community groups and individuals at those relief centres, and I have to say I think more broadly than that: in a whole range of other areas. We should never forget the people who actually organised the evacuation of a lot of animals, including horses, out of those areas. I think that was a terrific service to the community.

Recently I was privileged to be at a function in Elizabeth, where the Rotary Club of Elizabeth, the Rotary Club of Playford and the Lions Club of Elizabeth Playford held a joint meeting. At that joint meeting they made a presentation of $2,000 towards the One Tree Hill CFS, and that money was presented to the captain of the One Tree Hill CFS, Mr Tom Walsh. That represented, I think, the support of those local Rotary and Lions clubs. They provided some assistance at the time of the crisis, but following that they recognised that the One Tree Hill CFS had given such great service that they provided this money that may well add something to the facilities of the brigade that are not otherwise available, and I know that was very much appreciated.

The other aspect about community support, I think, that I would add is something that I mentioned earlier today in my matter of interest; that is, that highlighted last Saturday when I was at the function for the Bhutanese Australian Association of South Australia. Even though they were largely occupied with raising funds and awareness of their own countrymen, women and children still suffering in Bhutan and Nepal, and more recently they have been active in raising money for those suffering from the earthquake in Nepal, the Bhutanese community was one of the first to actually offer support at the time of the fires that started at Sampson Flat.

So, I give that community, which has only been in this country for eight years in total, great credit for seeing the need to support people as they fought those fires. With those remarks, Mr President—we are pleased to see you back—I have great pleasure in supporting the motion of the Hon. Tung Ngo.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (17:11): I would like to thank the Hon. Mr McLachlan, the Hon. Mr Darley, the Hon. Ms Vincent, the Hon. Mr Brokenshire and the last speaker, the Hon. Mr Dawkins, for their contributions and their support of this motion. I would like to reiterate my thanks to the CFS, SES, MFS and those firefighters from interstate who worked tirelessly to fight these fires. Without their extraordinary efforts these devastating fires could have been much worse. My thoughts are with those who lost or suffered damage to their homes and businesses as they continue to recover and rebuild.

The overwhelming support given by the South Australian community should also be acknowledged and, as the Hon. Mr Dawkins just mentioned, some of the newer emerging communities also joined in the efforts of raising funds for the people who suffered from this fire. I know many South Australians donated whatever they could and I am proud to be part of a community that helps each other, particularly when we face such devastation. I commend this motion to honourable members and I seek your support.

Motion carried.

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