FIRE DANGER RATING
SYSTEM — BURNING PERMITS
876. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to the recently updated
Australian Fire Danger Rating System.
(1) Is the
minister aware of any changes to the fire danger rating system that have
affected the days on which burning permits are able to be issued by local
governments?
(2) Is the
minister aware of any advice given to local governments regarding the issue of
burning permits on days that are now banned but were previously permitted?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes. The Bush
Fires Amendment Act 2022 included amendments that aligned the cancellation of
permits to burn with the new ''high'' category under the
four-level fire danger rating system.
(2) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services has engaged and briefed all regions
on the changes through the regional advocates working group and each of the
region and district operations advisory committees.
DFES continues to conduct analysis and testing of the system to ensure
accuracy, as well as liaising with local governments to respond to
queries regarding understanding and application of the new system.
President, I seek
leave to table the new fire danger ratings for the information of the house.
The PRESIDENT: Minister, that is an object, as distinct from a document.
Therefore, may I suggest that a photocopy be taken of the object and
that it be tabled at a later date.
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON: Yes,
President.