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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-04 Daily Xml
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Bushfire Preparedness

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the upcoming fire season.

Leave granted.

The PRESIDENT: I hope it is a gentle question, given that the minister is appropriately adorned today. You will get every protection today, minister.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: And that's all it takes.

The PRESIDENT: Absolutely. The honourable Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Coming from an equally avid Crows supporter, Mr President, I find that offensive.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Ask your question.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: On 17 June this year, I asked the minister questions regarding the 2025-26 bushfire season preparedness and water availability, particularly in regard to the drought and the scarcity and value of water on farms. The minister replied, and I quote, 'It is my understanding that our emergency services have been working with SA Water and DEW on what that could look like going forward.' The minister was also asked a supplementary as to whether she was being briefed on this issue. The minister's answer did not advise that she was currently briefed.

In response to FOIs, which asked for all correspondence between the minister, her staff and both SA Water and DEW regarding the 2025-26 bushfire preparedness and water availability up until 30 July, it appears that the minister still has not been briefed. My question today to the Minister for Emergency Services is: has the minister received a briefing from DEW or SA Water regarding emergency water sourcing arrangements in preparation for the upcoming bushfire season and, if so, will the minister provide the chamber with an update and place that information on the public record, noting the high level of concern amongst constituents, particularly in drought-affected regions?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:39): I thank the member for her question. FOIs are always interesting. Maybe one day you will figure out how to do them properly. In regard to conversations, a lot of conversations happen regularly with departments and across agencies, and I can appreciate your concerns in this area. It is something that I have been asking questions about as well—how we can be prepared for the summer season, particularly after the summer season that we have just been through.

We know that winter is tracking close to average for most of the state in some areas. However, we do know, of particular interest to the member, the Riverland and parts of the Murraylands and Mid North district continue to experience severe rainfall shortages. We know bushfire preparedness is a shared community responsibility, and now is the time for people to prepare their properties and make a review of their bushfire survival plans.

In regard to discussions that are happening that I referred to, which I think the member highlighted in her question, that is why the task force fire guard was established as a proactive response to evaluate the danger outlook for the upcoming season. This includes water security. My understanding is that the scope of the task force configuration includes water security, fire prevention and mitigation strategies, aviation support and readiness, community engagement and awareness campaigns and regional coordination and preparedness.

I have been informed that the task force members come from multiple agencies and organisations to ensure a collaborative approach for fire prevention and preparedness and response, such as South Australia Police, Department for Environment and Water, Department of Treasury and Finance, Department of Primary Industries and Regions, obviously MFS, SA Water, State Emergency Service, Department for Education, SA Power Networks and Local Government Association. As you can see from the list of people who were involved in these discussions, there are lots of agencies that are having to think through and think more broadly outside of their narrow department focus.

Thankfully, recent rainfall has eased dryness risk in regard to soil dryness. Usually, the big concerning factor is the dryness of the actual soil, which has returned to average levels in forecasted areas. Bushfire readiness remains a shared responsibility. All South Australians are urged to prepare for the coming season and have a written bushfire survival plan.

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