Western Victoria Region
Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:55): (1113) Last month was the warmest August on record. In my electorate of Western Victoria farmers are experiencing what is known as a green drought: very low levels of rainfall masked in the landscape by the continued appearance of green pastures and foliage. But what they are experiencing cannot be masked. They are facing a grim summer with low yields, dry pastures and limited feed for stock, not to mention the increased concern of bushfire risk as fuel loads become increasingly dry and volatile. People living on the land will do what they can to prevent risks to land, property, livestock and their families, but individual preparedness only goes so far, especially in a time of more erratic and severe weather. So I ask the Minister for Emergency Services: what is the government doing to ensure prevention and preparedness in what will inevitably be a challenging and potentially devastating summer in western Victoria?