Bushfire preparedness
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:21): (54) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. During the 2019–20 bushfire season 34 native timber contract businesses contributed 190 specialised machines that provided critical fire mitigation capabilities. Minister, how will you protect Victorian communities against devastating bushfires when this specialised hardwood-harvesting equipment is sold off due to your government’s abandonment of our native timber industry?
The PRESIDENT: I am considering if it was a hypothetical question. I am happy, Ms Bath, if you would like to rephrase your question.
Melina BATH: Thirty-four timber contractors contributed 190 specialised pieces of equipment that provided critical fire mitigation practices in the heat of the fire and post fire. What will you do when those critical pieces are no longer available for fire response?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:23): At the outset I concur with Ms Bath’s assessment of the fantastic efforts from a lot of people in response to the fires in 2019–20. I was Minister for Agriculture at the time and spoke to a lot of timber industry workers who could pivot to helping with salvage, helping with clearing of roads and the like. This is all important work that contributed to the response. What is important is that as part of the transition plan these are the types of roles that we would like to see industry consider taking up in the future. There is always going to be a need for creating firebreaks, mitigation efforts and the like.
When it comes to the specifics of your question, it is very hypothetical. In terms of where people want to go in the future, those conversations are happening with that industry, but that is more of a matter for industry transition as opposed to the Minister for Emergency Services. There is a lot of futureproofing going on and a lot of conversations with the Commonwealth. In fact there are funding buckets for grants that would enable us to consider more mitigation efforts and more protection of our forests and the like in relation to fire protection. These are conversations that are ongoing, and I would be very happy to have your input into those conversations.
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:24): Thanks, Minister. I would be more than happy to continue the conversations, but we also need solutions to this very real problem. Minister, during these devastating bushfires 284 native timber employees used their skills and knowledge operating this machinery to install firebreaks, open vital roads, fell dangerous trees and save human lives and property. Given the likelihood that these workers will be forced out, what do you propose the replacement costs will be to replace these bush specialists?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:25): I think, if you refer back to the answer that I just provided to you, this is a workforce and an industry that are looking at opportunities for transition, whether it is in innovation or whether it is in forest management. There are a lot of conversations that are going on. Again, the question that you pose is extremely hypothetical because it is a part of a process that we are just at the beginning of.