Thursday, 7 March 2024

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:11): (455) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, senior station officer Geoff Baker has stated in the media today that if the Clyde North fire station had been built as promised there would have been significantly less damage caused by the fire at Spartan Avenue, Clyde North. Minister, will you apologise to the families and my constituents who are facing substantial damage to their homes and cars?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:12): I thank Mrs Hermans for her question. Mrs Hermans, I gave an answer on Tuesday which outlined the response to that fire. I also outlined that the first response came from a nearby satellite station, and I informed the house that they arrived within service delivery standard time lines. What I did not know at the time but had confirmed after I answered that question is that that satellite unit is 700 metres away from the fire. I thank that unit for responding to that fire. As I indicated, it was a fire that developed very quickly, but the response that it received was in line with service delivery standards and came from a variety of units, including the Berwick, Narre Warren, Hampton Park and Beaconsfield units. As I said and will repeat, the Clyde CFA tanker was the first on the scene, arriving from the satellite station that is 700 metres from the fire. In relation to the Clyde North fire station and the future of that project, the planning is well underway. But in response to that community, the government continues to ensure that the risks are addressed, and the satellite station and its response to that is a demonstration of that commitment.

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:13): I thank the minister for responding even though there is no apology that has been given to these families on behalf of the government. Whilst I have heard your response – and I want to shout-out to all those CFA volunteers; they do a great job – the emergency response to the scene took 10 minutes. As residents stood outside their properties watching them burn, they could see the empty site where your government promised them a new fire station. Why has no work commenced on this site, Minister?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:14): Mrs Hermans, there is a lot wrong with your question, including your assertion that it took 10 minutes. I would like you to provide some evidence to back up your claim, because it is wrong. I also have answered much of your question, and I have indicated to you that planning for that fire station is underway.

Ann-Marie Hermans: On a point of order, President, the question was not whether there is planning underway. The question was: why has no work commenced on this site?

The PRESIDENT: The minister was relevant to the question.