Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (19:30): After the fires we are working through into the recovery stage. The private landholders of health are now grappling with their insurance companies to try and ensure everything is covered and that for what is covered the payout comes through quickly. They are navigating government funding, and I do congratulate and thank all of those who have been working in the hubs to assist with that pathway. We are still awaiting the release of housing so that people who have lost their homes have somewhere to live in the longer term while they work to rebuild.

In terms of public assets I urge the government to provide funding for Natimuk Bowling Club, which was destroyed through the fires, and to Natimuk gym, a club which hosts some 400 kids in gymnastics and is a really important part of the community to get together and stay fit and active; they cannot use their current facility for a long time to come. Natimuk field and game of course was not destroyed, but it was hit around the perimeter and certainly deserves some funding support. We also need to see support for our CFA volunteers, with upgraded CFA appliances so no more CFA volunteers are on the back of trucks, and we want to make sure we have got enough fire sheds as well that are up to scratch to house those trucks. We need assurance that the Telstra tower will not go down and lose power again. We need assurance that there will be support for fencing along public land, 50–50, and we need a clear pathway for landholders to access that, and rebuilding of the dog-proof fence in the north-east of the state. I urge the government to support these programs.