Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) (20:17): As we heard in this chamber earlier today about bushfires in Victoria, my members statement is on that topic. In Natimuk I was humbled to meet CFA volunteers and local community groups alongside Premier Jacinta Allan. Natimuk lost 17 homes, and there was damage to multiple buildings, sheds and fences. Some people had not yet got their crops in, so some crops were lost as well, and a relatively small number of livestock were lost compared to other areas. We also met Michael and Net Sudholz, who had lost their home. Net was there that day in a pair of shoes she had borrowed from someone else because she had left her house – which is no longer her home – in bare feet in a terrible rush. It was very heartening to see just how together the community are in supporting each other, and we heard a lot of examples of that in the chamber earlier today. I want to congratulate the Natimuk community on what they have been doing.