Bushfire preparedness
Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:34): My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, aircraft previously approved for night firefighting operations are currently available but were overlooked after operators of these aircraft spoke out in a suppressed report into the culture and safety of Victoria’s aircraft management. Minister, why has a damning report into the culture and safety practices of Victoria’s aerial firefighting program been suppressed? What is there to hide?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:35): This is a good opportunity to continue conversations on the aerial firefighting capability here in Victoria. As I said, there is a fleet of 50. We also have the capacity to draw on other aircraft that might be provided to private operators and the like to supplement the fleet, so amazing are the aircraft capabilities that support our hardworking firefighters that are on the ground.
In relation to night fire bombing, as I indicated, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority are looking at the capabilities for Chinook. There are important requirements for them to go through. All staff and crew undertake additional safety training and appropriate certification before undertaking night operations. All of this is ongoing work because, as I indicated, we really want to see night firefighting capacity here in Victoria, and that will lead the way for other states to follow.
Choices around aircraft are not matters for the minister; they are operational matters and they are made in conjunction with our emergency services personnel, including Emergency Management Victoria and indeed the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. So on the matters you referred to, I do not go and choose the planes; there are other people that do that.
Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:36): The fact that the minister did not mention the report and why it has been hidden tells us a story in itself. Minister, do you have full faith in the culture and safety practices of Victoria’s aerial firefighting program?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:36): Ms Lovell, the firefighting area of our emergency services in Victoria play an important role, and I have got to say the feedback from the community on the service when a plane is dispatched to provide assistance to firefighters on the ground is nothing but positive. Most recently the LAT aircraft was deployed to fires around New Year’s Day out in the west of our state. They did five return trips from their base to deploy retardant on that fire. It is an important asset. The 50-strong fleet is a really important asset, and I thank those important staff for their continuing work. We actually have quite a few people that come from overseas, sort of on loan, as our summers change with the Northern Hemisphere. They give up a lot to come here and work to support our Victorian communities and protect them, and I thank them for that work.
Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:37): I move:
That the minister’s answer be taken into account on the next day of meeting.
Motion agreed to.