Bushfire preparedness
Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:39): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Victoria’s aerial firefighting capability is in disarray as the state enters its highest risk bushfire period. In a move that has left frustrated firefighters fuming, the contract for use of the large Sikorsky 61 based at Mansfield runs out next week, with no sign of a new contract on the way. Will your government be entering into a new contract and, if so, when, or will the aerial firefighting fleet be further depleted and a major regional area be left without available aircraft?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:40): I thank Ms Lovell for her question and the opportunity to talk about the aircraft aerial firefighting capabilities here in Victoria. Obviously our firefighters on the ground do an amazing job. To have specialised, targeted support from an aerial fleet is of much benefit to the safety of our communities.
This year’s fleet of aircraft is 50, and they are more mobile than ever. It means that aircraft can of course be in more places more often across the state and respond faster. Even if those contracted aircraft finish their service period, as Ms Lovell has indicated, we still have access to up to 100 additional aircraft that can be on call. There have been more than 800 dispatches of aircraft since the start of October 2021. That sounds like a lot, but they are very quick and they can deal with fires quickly. As you would appreciate, we have had less incidents in relation to fire this period than in other years, fortunately, so they have been a great help in ensuring that that has been the case.
I have full confidence in the requirements to meet the fire needs of our state. When the experts provide the advice in relation to the risk assessments of the aircraft that are required when and where—I think I have quoted in this place that it is not me who picks the planes—this is based on expert advice. As I said, we have had the best coverage and the most amount of aircraft, including some brand new types of aircraft that do more, carry more and provide better protection for the state of Victoria. I thank all of those efforts in continuing to keep our community safe.
Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:42): I will take that as a no—that you are not renewing the contract for the Sikorsky 61 at Mansfield. Minister, the contract for the use of the Super Puma helicopters also runs out next week, with no sign of a new contract on the way. Minister, isn’t it a fact that your government’s aerial firefighting strategy is so poor you actually forgot to order the belly tank for the Super Puma, effectively making it useless?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:43): Whilst I have confessed to not being an expert in relation to aircraft, the information in relation to the order of the Super Puma was that the attachment that was not ordered was based on the fact that it was not required for the risk assessment that it was ordered to address. There might be some people that you are talking to that perhaps would have liked this special attachment that they thought that they might need. But in relation to who selects the aircraft and where it is deployed, that is based on a collection of experts, and the advice in relation to the Super Puma was that the order that was made was fit for purpose for the safety of Victorians. I will remind Ms Lovell of the extensive support that the aerial firefighting service has provided to Victoria this year. It has been the most capacity we have ever had.