Clyde North house fire
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:40): (349) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, on 15 January of this year Ariana Qayum and her family stood in front of their Clyde North house as it burnt to the ground. The member for Berwick wrote to you on 15 February to ask for details on the emergency response and put some specific questions to you. In your response to him some three months later you ignored one of the most important questions: why were CFA crews not aware that one road providing easy access to the property was closed for roadworks? The member for Berwick wrote to you on 22 June of this year to ask this question again. Some five months later, despite attempts to get a response, none have been forthcoming. Ms Qayum just wants some answers so she can try and move on with her life and that of her family. The following is a direct quote from Ms Qayum:
The trauma of watching my house burn will live with me forever. Why won’t they answer? I’m a victim. Listen to me; hear me.
Minister, why haven’t you answered Ms Qayum’s questions from the 22 June letter?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:41): Thank you, Ms Crozier. I am familiar with the situation, and certainly I express condolences and acknowledgement of the loss of the individuals concerned subject to the fire that they endured, and I certainly acknowledge the trauma. There has been some backwards and forwards between me and Mr Battin in relation to this matter. In relation to the road closures, I personally have asked for advice in relation to this so I can get an answer to the follow-up correspondence from Mr Battin. Actually I asked my staff last night: ‘I’d like to really get this answer to Mr Battin. Have we got an answer?’ They told me last night they would have it for me today.
Georgie Crozier interjected.
Jaclyn SYMES: I know, right? I would have it for you if I had read it prior to question time. I understand there has been some toing and froing in relation to getting some information out of the local developers, and we wanted to be really accurate in the information that I got for Mr Battin, so I understand that that response is ready for me to tick off today.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:42): Minister, I am very pleased to hear that, and I am sure Mr Battin will be very pleased to receive that.
Jaclyn Symes: It’s been hanging around a while.
Georgie CROZIER: Yes, it has been hanging around for a while, as you just interjected and said. But, Minister, given the concerns around this devastating episode for the Qayum family, why is the government not being transparent and publishing the CFA and the FRV response times every quarter?
The PRESIDENT: I do not see how the supplementary has anything to do with the substantive.
Georgie CROZIER: On a point of order, President, in my substantive, if I may, I did say at the very start that the member for Berwick wrote on the 15th to ask for details on the emergency response, so it is about the emergency response times.
The PRESIDENT: I do not consider it supplementary to the substantive.