BUSHFIRE MITIGATION
410. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I thank the member for Willagee for
the vote of confidence!
This is a serious question. I refer
to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to reducing the risk of
bushfire in local communities across Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister update the house on this
government's significant investment in bushfire mitigation measures?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house what this record investment means for
bushfire-prone communities across WA?
Mr R.R.
WHITBY replied:
(1)–(2) I
can do that, member for Swan Hills. I thank and congratulate the member for her
excellent advocacy and the hard work she has done for her constituents,
especially after a very tough year. With the Wooroloo bushfire largely impacting her electorate, what she has done over the
past few months has been extraordinary. It has been very tough. I thank
her for what she has done. This question gives me an opportunity to explain
what the government is doing about bushfire mitigation, which the member
obviously has a special interest in.
More than 90 per cent of our state is
bushfire prone. Over the past five years, we have invested a record $50 million
in mitigation, which includes $35 million for mitigation on crown land. It is
the first time the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has performed this
important work. We also secured $15 million for the bushfire risk management
planning program to support local governments identify and then treat bushfire
risk. Our state is entering a new era of enhanced bushfire management, the
likes of which we have not seen before. This funding is making a real
difference.
We
are seeing more planned burning and other mitigation activities. Since 2017,
the McGowan government has invested
$31 million, which has been provided to 48 local governments across the state.
That has meant 4 306 potentially life-and-property-saving bushfire mitigation
treatments across more than 9 000 hectares and more than 4 700 kilometres of
upgraded firebreaks and fire access roads to reduce the threat of disastrous
bushfires. Just weeks ago, 26 additional local governments shared a record $7.5
million in mitigation activity funding for more than 1 100 mitigation
activities in high bushfire risk areas. This includes mechanical treatments to
reduce fuel levels, the creation of firebreaks and planned burns.
We
know that we are the true party of the regions. I have a long list of local
governments that have benefited from
this mitigation funding. I will go through the list. As I look through the
list, they seem to be all Labor seats, but we share the responsibility
across some of the few remaining non-Labor seats across the state. I can see
Pilbara, Warren–Blackwood, Collie–Preston and Vasse on the
list. The member for Moore will be glad to know that the seat of Moore is
included, and the McGowan government is looking after the constituents of
Moore, even if the local member is not. It is true to say that we have done
more for Moore than ever before! As I look through the list, the member for Roe
is not forgotten about. We have not said no to Roe either. They are all there.
It has been a very difficult year. We
have had the Wooroloo and Red Gully bushfires, and we have had to attend to a lot
of issues with firefighters and first responders. Our emergency services
continue to work harder than ever before.
They cannot do it by themselves. We cannot stop every bushfire, but we can
reduce the impact of those bushfires when they occur. As the member for
Swan Hills well knows, a prepared community is a safer community.
The SPEAKER: Before I give
the call to a member to ask the last question, I think I saw the former member
for Kimberley Carol Martin walk in. Yes, she is here.
Members: Hear, hear!
The SPEAKER: I give the last
question to the member for Roe.