Thursday, 6 February 2020

Bushfires

Mr BURGESS (Hastings) (09:57): I would like to extend my sincere condolences and those of my community to the people from all over Australia who lost loved ones, pets, property and livestock during our nation’s horrific bushfires. I would also like to thank our great nation’s defence forces and our wonderful emergency services, in particular our brave CFA volunteers. Each one of us would readily give our lives to save the lives of people we love, our friends and neighbours. It is an entirely different thing, though, that these brave men and women willingly put their lives on the line for people they have never met and probably will never meet. That is another level of brave; that is heroic.

I would also like to thank a great number of people, both local and from across our nation, who donated money and belongings and those who donated their time and are still donating their time and energy to raise funds for people and families of the regions so badly devastated.

Locally, I would also like to thank the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, local community organisations, generous individuals, businesses and sporting clubs for their efforts to assist the Mallacoota bushfire evacuees, who were transported to an emergency relief centre based in Somerville Recreation Centre by our wonderful defence forces during early January. During this period MV Sycamore and HMAS Choules evacuated 1334 people from Mallacoota to BlueScope in Western Port and HMAS Cerberus. These people were then moved to Somerville, where shire CEO John Baker and I joined the highly effective and efficient team to greet them. (Time expired)