Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Bushfire preparedness

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:21): (275) My question is again to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, how many water-bombing aircraft were available to fight the fires that broke out in Gippsland over the weekend?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:22): Thank you for the question, Ms Crozier. In relation to exactly what is on the ground at the moment, I will have to take that on notice, but I will give you a bit of a run-down in relation to how the fire fleet works. There were helicopters that were putting water on the fires over the weekend. In relation to –

A member interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: Our aerial fleet is just one component of fire response. That component comes online as the season evolves in response to the risk. As the season starts we procure what the experts advise us that we need. We will continue to add to the fleet, and I will make formal announcements in due course in relation to those as they come on board. I have confirmed on previous occasions that there is no reduction to our aerial fleet this coming season. We will have at least 50 procured aircraft in relation to dealing with the fires, and we also have a reserve fleet of another 50, so there are 100 available aircraft for the coming season. In relation to when they are deployed, that is a decision for the experts. I do not control the air desk of the fire response in relation to –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: I can confirm that there were helicopters that had water putting out fires on the weekend, Ms Crozier. In relation to Elvis, which carries a lot of water, I will give you a briefing in relation to when that will come online. There are many, many aircraft that carry water. How many are deployed is not an operational decision for the minister. That would be completely inappropriate.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is endeavouring to answer a question, and the people that asked her the question shout her down. The minister to continue without any interjections.

Jaclyn SYMES: Thank you, President. Ms Crozier, I maintain that the misinformation about the aerial fleet is incredibly damaging to the morale and confidence of the community. There is no reduction in the fleet for the upcoming season. The deployment of resources is a matter for the experts, and if you would like a briefing from the experts I am sure I can arrange that. The new shadow has reached out to me and asked for information in relation to the upcoming season, and I can make that material available to anybody that is interested.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:25): It was a very, very simple question, Minister, that you failed to answer. Minister, I ask: will you provide this house with a complete fleet list, including contract start and finish dates?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:25): Ms Crozier, I have offered a briefing, so I think the answer to that is yes. Each year that I have been emergency services minister I have gotten to go along and inspect all of the planes and all of the helicopters, and I get to talk to the pilots about the important work they do, and that –

Georgie Crozier: You didn’t know how many were operating on the weekend.

Jaclyn SYMES: There were many aircraft available on the weekend. In relation to how –

Georgie Crozier: How many were deployed?

Jaclyn SYMES: I think 10, but I told you I will take it on notice and get you the specific answer to that. I am advised at least 10, but I want to get you the right answer. In relation to the contracts, I have stood up and done a press conference every season that I have been in the role, talking about the planes, how much water they carry, how many pilots we have, how many people from North America are helping us. That is an annual event that I do, and I anticipate that I will be doing it again this season.