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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-02-06 Daily Xml
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Motions

South Australian Bushfires

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.I. Lucas:

That this council—

1. Expresses its deep regret at the loss of life as a result of bushfires in South Australia so far this summer, and extends its condolences and sympathy to the families and loved ones of those killed;

2. Records its sorrow and support for those who suffered injury and who lost their homes, property and personal possessions;

3. Praises the work of firefighters and other emergency services, volunteers and community members for their courage and sacrifice in responding to the fires and protecting our communities in this time of need;

4. Recognises the profound impact on those communities affected and the role of governments and the South Australian community in assisting them to recover and rebuild at the earliest opportunity; and

5. Appreciates the great generosity and support to the affected communities by all those who have contributed to the State Emergency Relief Fund and other appeals.

(Continued from 5 February 2020.)

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (16:18): I rise to wholeheartedly support this motion. I would begin, as others have, by offering my deepest and sincerest condolences to those who have lost their lives in these terrible fires and to the loved ones that they have left behind, both here in South Australia and interstate. Nationally, we have lost 33 people and we have lost three in South Australia. I would also offer my condolences to those who lost their homes, their businesses and their communities.

I did not personally know any of those who died, but I do know a number of people personally who lost everything else. In the main, these were people who I have worked with over the years on various conservation campaigns, especially on Kangaroo Island. It ceases to be just a story on the news when you know personally those who are affected. Nationwide, there were over 3,000 homes that were lost. In fact, it is not just a question of knowing people who lost their homes, there were some I have had in my home who, as we do in polite company, said, 'You must come and visit us in ours one day.' There are at least a couple of people for whom I will never be able to do that because they lost everything in the fires.

We also know that one consequence for those who survived will be to their mental and emotional health. Even those indirectly affected are likely to need our support long after the immediate danger has passed. That is why we need to make sure, in the tough months and years ahead, that we do not forget how we feel now or how we felt as we watched the tragedy unfold in news reports over the last few months.

I also wish to pay tribute to the phenomenal efforts of our paid and unpaid firefighters and emergency services personnel. They have worked tirelessly for months on end to defend property, life and land, and it is only because of their bravery and courage, showing the best of what Australians can be, that these fires and the results of them have not been much worse. I would like to give a shout out to the young trainee, Claudia, in the Hon. Tammy Franks' office, who I think undertook three tours of duty to Kangaroo Island.

Across Australia, one thing that has shocked so many people is how early these fires started. In August this year, Penny and I spent some time in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. We camped in the ancient world heritage listed rainforests. I got some great photos of lyrebirds, bellbirds and those elusive little log runners that forage in the damp leaf litter floor of the rainforest. These are areas that had never been subject to bushfires of the type or severity that ravaged the region just one month later in September.

The fires in South Australia came a little later, but there is now a consensus that the fire season is getting longer as our landscapes dry out, particularly as a consequence of climate change. Some that were not taken by surprise were scientists, community leaders and emergency services experts, who all warned the government of the risks and the need for action many, many months before the crisis began to unfold. Last year, we had 23 former fire chiefs begging the Prime Minister for a meeting; they could not get one. They were ignored.

There is much more that we need to say and do in coming months in response to these fires. At the top of that list for the Greens is addressing climate change. We are clearly facing a climate emergency and, as a nation, we are sleepwalking into the abyss. I do not accept that now is not the time to talk about climate change. Whilst this tragedy is still raw and fresh and ongoing, it is in fact the best time.

As this new parliamentary session begins, in coming days and weeks the Greens will be bringing bills and motions forward to deal with the climate emergency. We need to listen to the scientists and the community, we need to listen to the fire and emergency chiefs and we need to listen to the next generation who will inherit the disaster that we are creating. Most importantly, we need political will to prioritise the future because none of us want this horror fire season to become the new normal. I support the motion.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (16:23): It is an honour to support this motion and pay tribute to those who have suffered from the recent fires and to those thousands of people who have helped during this time of crisis. As we know, three lives have been lost in the fires at Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island. Our deep sympathy goes to those who have lost family members or friends. Most of us can only imagine the tragedy of losing someone close to us in such circumstances and we hope everyone affected knows that they have the heartfelt condolences of people across this state.

Seventy houses were destroyed in the Cudlee Creek fire and 89 in Kangaroo Island, as well as outbuildings, cars and other property. The loss of stock and damage to farmland and forests is widespread. Of course, closer to my home in the South-East was the Keilira bushfire, which was started by dry lightning on the morning of 30 December. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but it burned more than 25,000 hectares, with a perimeter of some 76 kilometres. This fire destroyed three properties, with one being occupied and the other two being unused farmhouses. It also destroyed more than 2,000 bales of hay, hundreds of kilometres of fencing and up to 400 head of cattle and 3,000 sheep.

Businesses and properties were lost in all these fires across our state, many of which were built up over a lifetime, and the devastation for those who have seen their hard work burn is immense. Going forward in terms of rebuilding, we need to particularly focus on the emotional impact that this devastation will have on so many people in our community—those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost businesses and those who have lost houses.

I would particularly like to comment on the families of those who had family members fighting the fires. When I was a teenager, my father was a member of the country fire volunteer service. We lived just over the border in Victoria, in Strathdownie. In the 1980 and 1983 fires, he was a volunteer. He was out fighting those fires. Fortunately, he was not injured, though of course others were.

My memories as a schoolgirl of going to school in the morning and wondering throughout that day where dad was and what was happening to him even now have a huge impact. We must remember the children of those who were out fighting, who were out volunteering and who were in the path of these devastating fires. We need to ensure that we give them the resources to express the uncertainty they would have felt, the sadness and all of those emotions that they may be going through.

We can all be heartened by the huge community response to these fires. Funds for our Firies was on in Mount Gambier at the weekend, and I was fortunate to be able to go. It involved many businesses and many entertainers generously donating the proceeds of the day to the fire effort. The Rotary Club of Mount Gambier volunteered their time, as they so often do. A number of businesses donated all their proceeds, and I would like to name them because, as was said in an earlier contribution in this place today, most of those who help, who volunteer or who raise funds are not doing it for thanks; nevertheless, it is nice to thank them.

In the South-East event, Natural Born Grillers, 25acres Street Food, Limoncello Caravan Bar, Jensen's Pizzas, Waffle-Inn, Tantanoola Icecream, ScRoll Queen, Metro Bakery and Cafe, Teys Bros of Naracoorte, Collins Court Butcher, Lakes Village Meats and Bakers Delight were all part of that Funds for our Firies event. I hope I have not forgotten anyone. There were certainly many, many people there to assist and to actually turn up, despite the weather, to raise funds for our fireys.

There have been numerous other efforts across the region. I will name just one today and I might have an opportunity in future contributions in this place to talk about some of the others, and that is the local Foodland at Mount Gambier. They have had an arrangement whereby, if anyone purchases more than $50 worth of goods from their store, Foodland is donating a proportion of that sale. That is going on until 24 February. That is just one example of local stores that are helping in whichever way they can.

Local CFS and MFS personnel not only helped in containing local fires but many of them also travelled to Kangaroo Island or to Cudlee Creek to help there. Some volunteers from the South-East that I know of who have travelled to help others include: Mariska Hawke and her husband Gary Thomas; Ray and Cathy Paine from Penola; Jaiden Bombski; Gary Stevens, first lieutenant of Mount Gambier; Elaine Wilson-Bennett; and Wade Chant, who is a first lieutenant from Port MacDonnell CFS. I know Wade and he is a fine young man who has gone to help.

We have seen people from all over the state, and indeed the country, assisting with recovery, including organisations such as BlazeAid, which is helping to rebuild fencing and currently has a camp near Kingston in the South-East.

When I visited Kangaroo Island a few weeks ago with my Labor colleagues, it was confronting and there was devastation wherever we looked, but what was particularly heartening was the way that everyone had come together. Lots of people often talk—and certainly we will in this place—about the way people come together during and after tragedies. That is something that was very, very clear on Kangaroo Island when we were there.

We thank all the firefighters, the Army personnel, the reservists, the SES volunteers, SAPOL, Health staff, government workers and anyone else who has been involved in helping with these fires. We have confidence that this community spirit will continue through the lengthy rebuilding process. I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:29): The Kangaroo Island and Cuddlee Creek bushfires form part of an unprecedented 2019-20 bushfire season, causing devastation to communities across Australia. I express my sincere condolences and sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who were killed in the bushfires—in particular, Mr Dick Lang and his son Clayton, and also Mr Ron Selth, who died earlier at Charleston.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the work of the Country Fire Service—namely, the volunteer firefighters, whose bravery and dedication is truly humbling. I would also like to acknowledge the families and loved ones of our volunteer firefighters: thank you for the support you provide in enabling your loved ones to carry out such an important service for our community. I can only imagine the anxiety and trepidation a person must feel when they watch a loved one leaving to battle an active fire front.

To all the South Australian firefighters and your families, I wish to say thank you. Thank you for your bravery, humanity, kinship and sense of altruism. I understand that for many volunteer firefighters, balancing work and family commitments with Country Fire Service duties and bushfire events would not be straightforward. Many of you would have given up holiday time—time that is enjoyed with loved ones—to save people's homes and livelihoods.

Our nation owes so much to the bravery and dedication of our volunteer firefighters. When confronted with massive bushfires, knowing that these fires have the power and ability to engulf towns and thousands of homes matched with the challenge of battling such blazes, all the while placing themselves at risk, must be quite overwhelming at times.

With everything that the volunteer firefighters have seen and dealt with in battling these fierce fires, the mental recovery and readjustment in their daily routines is bound to be challenging. I hope each volunteer firefighter has access to ongoing support and assistance where and when they need it. These catastrophic events will impact communities for a long time to come.

I have been going to Kangaroo Island for a number of years. I have a few friends and associates over there, and also know many of the businessowners. Talking to some of them on the phone during these bushfires, it was quite harrowing to hear the desperation in their voices. I know that Bluey, who owns Rustic Blue on the South Coast, near Hanson Bay, fought the fires for a long time when his cafe and gallery were under threat. Thank God that he came through that with his life and his business intact.

My heart goes out to Peter, who owns Island Honey in Kingscote. He posted a video on social media of himself and his son fighting a bushfire at his son's house. It was absolutely horrifying to see the flames, knowing that the two of them were battling this fire—you would think it was something straight out of a movie. Thankfully, they both lived. Unfortunately, the house burned down, and many of Peter's beehives were also destroyed during the fire, so it will take them quite a long time to recover.

It will take a long time as homes and businesses are rebuilt and livelihoods are slowly reassembled. Significant populations of wildlife and unique natural habitats have been destroyed and, for now, only time will tell if some of these species and habitats will flourish again one day. The threat of extinction of some species, including the Kangaroo Island dunnart and the already endangered black glossy cockatoos, is both confronting and alarming.

The survival of these species depends on an intense recovery effort, and I call upon the state government to address their responsibility seriously and with the upmost regard for the conservation of these unique and endearing species. I acknowledge the critical role that the various wildlife organisations have played in protecting endangered species and providing treatment to injured animals in the aftermath of such bushfires.

I would also like to spare some time and thoughts for the 600 children on the island who probably witnessed some quite horrifying times, with their houses under threat, their friends' houses under threat, people dying. This is something they will remember right to the day they die—I am sure they will. Hopefully there is enough support. I have not heard much mentioned about kids at all. It has all been about houses and lives lost and businesses destroyed and wildlife, but I have not heard much about the 600 kids on the island who have suffered such an ordeal that they themselves would need special counselling available. Resources should be put into the efforts to make sure those kids come out of this unscathed.

I would like to acknowledge the generosity of the people of this country, and international donations have come through. Lots of money has been raised right throughout the country, to be used to help people get back on their feet, whether their homes have been destroyed, infrastructure, businesses. I just hope the processes are intact, are there, to make sure that money gets out as quickly as possible to where it is needed. Very often these people here, they will survive; they survive the trauma of the bushfires, they are very resilient, and businesses are under a lot of pressure, and it is important that the money gets to them to help them rebuild their lives.

I will be going over there for a few days on 24 February. I will be over there to support some of the businesses and do what I can to help the people I know over there to rebuild. I will be taking over a car load full of vegetables for the wild animals that are now under threat from feral animals. We just cannot seem to win a trick in this game.

I think that is what Kangaroo Island in particular needs; what they need is people to go there and support the businesses. Handouts are great—fine—but they are short term. What they need is to have ongoing support for their businesses. So I do encourage people, where they can, to go over there and just do their little bit for that island. In saying that, I conclude my remarks.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:37): I wholeheartedly support this motion, as have other members. Every summer we see the impact of bushfires in our community, but the bushfires we have seen over the last couple of months have had a rippling effect through many communities across the country, not only at a personal and emotional level but economically.

This fire danger season is like no other, and it is not over yet. South Australians across metropolitan Adelaide have woken to smoke haze during this fire danger season. One could have been forgiven for thinking you were in a different city. Melbourne endured the worst air quality of any city in the world. Even New Zealand's air quality was impacted by Australia's recent devastating fires. The impact of these fires reached further than ever before.

I make this point because no matter where you were in South Australia during the fires, you could not remove or distance yourself. It was not something you just saw on the news; it was something that became front of mind for everyone, because everyone could see the impact from their doorstep. While metropolitan South Australians were not at the front of the devastation caused by these fires, they have been quick to get behind the communities, as have local residents, to support their fellow South Australians.

It cannot be stated enough that this fire danger season is different, and fire danger seasons will continue to be different unless we, the people in this place and our counterparts in Canberra, do something about it. At a national level, since the start of the 2019 fire season, a staggering 17 million hectares have been burned, with almost all states and territories impacted. There have been at least 34 fatalities, including local volunteers and those who have come from overseas to help in areas that they did not even know. More than 6,500 buildings have been destroyed, and it is estimated that one billion animals have perished, bringing some species closer to extinction.

In South Australia, we have seen bushfire tragedies in the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island, and we also saw the impact of the Yorke Peninsula fires, which I spoke about last year. In the Hills, at least 38 homes and four businesses were destroyed, with more than 12,500 hectares burnt. The township of Kersbrook was hit the hardest, with 12 homes lost.

The Cudlee Creek fire devastatingly claimed the life of Ron Selth, a partner, father of three and grandfather of six, as well as a civil engineer who ran his own engineering business. Ron was a well-known person in the Adelaide Hills community and was known to be a good bloke. My condolences go to his family and his loved ones. At least 29 people were also taken to hospital as a result of the fires in the Adelaide Hills region.

On Kangaroo Island, wildfires burned for weeks and consumed more than 200,000 hectares, that is, half of the island. Tragically, Dick Lang, a husband, father of four and grandfather of seven, and his younger son Clayton, a husband and father of two young daughters, passed away. They were on their way back to the family property on Kangaroo Island after helping to fight a fire nearby on another property for two days. My heart goes out to their families and their loved ones through this difficult time.

Dozens of homes on the island have been destroyed. As an area and local economy that relies heavily on tourism, these fires occurred at the peak of the holiday period on Kangaroo Island and could not have come at a worse time—if there is a good time. These figures help to put perspective on the sheer magnitude of the fires that have blazed through South Australia and Australia.

Through it all, we have been reminded of the incredible heart of Australians, as CFS volunteers, local residents and communities across Australia worked tirelessly to protect South Australians, as well as the Eastern States. Locals of impacted communities across Australia dropped everything to help their neighbour. Without any training, they jumped into their trucks of differing sizes with water tanks to fight the fires.

You may have seen Shane Leahy in parliament yesterday. Shane is a clear example of this incredible heart. Shane, a CFS volunteer, lost his home during the Kangaroo Island bushfire but still went out to fight to help protect his neighbours. He lost his home but thankfully kept his business and his spirit to protect his community.

The South Australian Labor team has been out supporting South Australians affected by the bushfires. The member for Croydon, Peter Malinauskas, in the other place, and members of the Labor Party have made multiple trips to both the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island to listen to the stories and concerns of locals and volunteers.

On Kangaroo Island, I would like to particularly acknowledge the outstanding work of the member for Mawson in the other place, Leon Bignell. Spending countless hours with farmers, volunteers and farmers, and helping to organise the donation of an extra 91 life-saving two-way radios, Leon has devoted his time, attention and focus to Kangaroo Island, where it is needed most. Leon provided real help and sympathy to those affected, and the member for Mawson is not done. He continues to work hard to support the recovery of Kangaroo Island.

I would also like to acknowledge the work the government has been doing to support the South Australian regions affected by bushfires, particularly the #BookThemOut campaign, which the opposition is fully behind. We know the impact of bushfires continues well after the embers have gone out and, with tourism being such an important part of Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills economies, it is important that the world knows that Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills are open for business.

But, whilst our CFS volunteers and locals are out protecting the community, who is there to protect and support them? After the 20 November fires on Yorke Peninsula, I reached out to the local CFS brigades to thank them and to see if there was something we could do to help and support them while they are protecting us.

I have heard directly from brigade volunteers that there are tools they could be given to help better protect their community and themselves when fires break out. Marion Bay CFS suggested the need to reduce vegetation density in and around the township of Marion Bay. The brigade also mentioned that local communities would like to see excess vegetation mulched and sold to cover the cost.

All honourable members can stand here and put out a call for volunteers to join the CFS to support their communities but we need to ensure the training required is accessible and available. So, while I am glad to hear that there has been an increase in volunteers signing up on Yorke Peninsula since the fires, I was disappointed to hear that it can be difficult for CFS volunteers to undertake the necessary training. This is something that we need to work together on to make a positive change. We can never thank our CFS volunteers enough but we can give them the support they need to protect the community and to protect themselves.

As I mentioned earlier, if anything good has come out of the devastation of this bushfire season, it is that the community is ready for a conversation about what the future looks like and they are ready for leadership. Now is the time to have a discussion about bushfire management. Now is the time to support our CFS organisations, volunteers and their families. Now is the time for the right policies to be put in place to rebuild our communities and support South Australians. Again, thank you to all who have supported the people who have been impacted by the devastation of these bushfires, who have put clothes on people's backs, food on tables and have looked after their communities. But most importantly, may the memories of the lost loved ones live on and not be forgotten.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (16:46): I, too, rise to support the motion. The catastrophic bushfires that we have experienced in the early stages of our summer season have illustrated the vulnerable position that our country is positioned in in relation to the devastating effects of climate change. It would be fair to say that we are experiencing a climate crisis of enormous proportions which is having a devastating effect on our plant, animal and human life and has placed an incredible toll on those communities directly affected by the fires and the heroes who have been fighting to contain them.

At this time, we require plans, actions, resources and leadership to meet the challenges confronting our country—and the world for that matter. In the first instance, I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of all Australians involved in fighting and containing the fires and, in particular, the community, the rural and metropolitan fire services, and the defence forces that have played an important role in that regard.

It has illustrated that as an Australian people we are unified, resilient and compassionate and those efforts have been supported nationally and internationally. Many of our community leaders, politicians and those more fortunate have played an important role in assisting and supporting, which has also included financial support, to meet the devastation that we are confronted with. In this regard, we must acknowledge the endeavours of community organisations, the non-government sector and the thousands of volunteers in terms of their support at this critical time.

The efforts of the member for Mawson are worthy of mention. The member for Mawson, Leon Bignell, has worked tirelessly in these last few months, assisting and supporting efforts and endeavours, particularly as the fires impacted and wreaked havoc and destruction in parts of his electorate on Kangaroo Island. Whilst there has been extensive media coverage on the bushfires, the role of our national broadcaster, the ABC emergency services coverage and support to our communities impacted by the fires has been outstanding. The important work that must now continue is recovery and restoration work to prevent the dimensions of this sort of disaster occurring again. I support the motion.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (16:49): I rise to echo the sentiments expressed by other honourable members and to speak in support of the motion to pay tribute to the lives lost but also to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of everyone involved in fighting the bushfires that ravaged our state on Kangaroo Island, in the Adelaide Hills and on Yorke Peninsula. Like everyone in this place, I was horrified by the images I saw on the TV news of the ferocity of the bushfires that have ravaged our state this summer and, of course, that have ravaged other jurisdictions this summer.

Tragically, the fires claimed the lives of three people: the larger than life Dick Lang; his son, plastic surgeon Clayton; and Adelaide Hills engineer Ron Selth. Well-known Adelaide Hills identity and former Oakbank Racing Club chairman, John Glatz, was also critically injured in the bushfires that destroyed large parts of the Adelaide Hills. I think it is fair to say that we all wish him well as he continues to recover from the injuries he sustained when he was trapped by flames.

While Mother Nature showed us her very worst, I think human nature showed us its very best. In what can only be described as true Aussie spirit and grit, hundreds of South Australians from all walks of life put their own lives and safety at risk to help fight the fires. Some, as has been mentioned by other honourable members, had even lost their own homes and all their life's belongings in the devastating fires yet, despite their huge personal losses, their main priority was to continue to fight the fires to help their neighbours, their mates, their community, to make sure they did not lose their properties and their belongings as well. It is truly amazing.

Unlike my colleague the Hon. Frank Pangallo, I have not had the opportunity to visit the bushfire-ravaged area that he has to see firsthand the damage caused and speak with those impacted, although we have planned to do so in the coming days and weeks. Regardless, I have been totally overwhelmed and inspired by what I have seen on the TV news and especially through social media, not only in South Australia but in other parts of Australia as well.

To see the amazing work these people do, many of them volunteers usually in dangerous and at times life-threatening situations, to minimise the loss of both human and animal life is truly amazing. Of course, this includes the work of the CFS, the SES, the Red Cross, the Salvos and the Australian Army Reserves, as well as SAPOL, the SA Ambulance Service, the MFS and many others. They were ably supported by other firefighting services from other parts of the world, as we know.

I want to make special mention today of the three American firefighters who were tragically killed when the aerial water tanker they were in crashed while battling wildfires in regional New South Wales. They were Captain Ian H. McBeth, 44, of Great Falls, Montana; First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Buckeye, Arizona; and flight engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr, 43, of Navarre, Florida. For the more than 27-odd people who I have not mentioned by name who have lost their lives fighting the nation's bushfires this summer, I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that my heart goes out to their families, their friends and their loved ones over their unspeakable loss.

As they say, superheroes do not always wear capes. All of these courageous people, who have courageously battled bushfires that have ravaged large parts of our country, do not get anywhere near the accolades or acknowledgement they deserve, nor do they undertake these treacherous tasks seeking it. These are our superheroes. Who knows where we would be without their invaluable and tireless efforts and their community spirit. It is something that defines this great state and this great country and a spirit I do not think you truly understand unless you are an Australian. To you all, I say thank you.

Finally, I want to use this opportunity to commend the amazingly talented author, actor and comedian—my absolute favourite comedian—Celeste Barber for her record-breaking fundraising efforts. Celeste, whose extended family was directly impacted by the New South Wales bushfires, had intended to reach a fundraising target of $30,000. In a very short time, she ended up raising a staggering $51-odd million donated by people the world over. I think it is about 1.2 million people who have donated to her fundraiser.

Celeste, like a number of other celebrities, has dug deep to support Australia throughout this difficult time. I think this is a great reflection of the warm welcome that these individuals have received, as artists, from the Australian community on their visits here over many, many years and, of course, Celeste more generally here. I think it is fair to say, given the unprecedented response that Celeste received to her fundraising efforts, that it has been determined that those funds will be directed to all jurisdictions impacted by the fires, including SA. So, Celeste, for my part, you absolutely rock; thank you.

I am really pleased that the Hon. Russell Wortley has made special mention of all the children and young people caught up in the fires, because no doubt they have suffered unspeakable anguish and will require lots of support in dealing with what they have had to endure. I am sure the honourable member will be pleased to hear that there is one very small local charity here that does have a significant amount of money, which they have sought my assistance in directing towards helping and supporting the very children who have been impacted by the bushfires in SA in whatever way is necessary, no matter how big or small. I think that is a very heartwarming gesture on the part of that charity, and I have been particularly pleased to help them in their efforts.

In closing, I would like to once again extend my condolences to the loved ones of all those who lost their lives here and interstate. To those who lost their homes, our thoughts and prayers are with you all. To our volunteers and to the superheroes who I referred to, who put their lives on the line and continue to do so and will continue to do so, thank you. I think it is fair to say we all thank you for your tremendous efforts. With those words I, too, commend the motion to the chamber.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.G.E. Hood.

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