Thursday, 24 September 2026

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:26): (1507) My question is to the Minister for Environment. The parliamentary inquiry into the 2026 summer fires called for urgent attention to areas of extreme fuel risk before the next fire season – this fire season. Minister, with the seasonal bushfire outlook warning of a heightened bushfire risk across large parts of Victoria this spring, what additional fuel reduction and bushfire mitigation measures has your department undertaken to better protect Victorian communities?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:27): I thank Ms Bath for her question. As you have indicated – briefings can be made available in relation to the elevated bushfire season – forecasts are indicating a more severe fire season due to prolonged dry conditions and above-average temperatures. Everybody is, I think, now aware of the El Niño situations that we are anticipating. It is a concerning season that is ahead of us. DEECA is taking steps to strengthen its preparedness ahead of the fire season, wanting to detect fires earlier and respond faster and making sure that we are in a position to maintain operational capacity during prolonged and above-average conditions for this fire season. There are currently arrangements being made so far by FFMVic. Aviation resources – we have brought them forward so that things can start earlier this year. That was an agreement recently through SEMPC and our budget committee to make sure that we –

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, I am listening intently to the minister. The minister is speaking quietly, but I cannot hear because of the babble in the back row. I appreciate the work you are doing, but I cannot hear because of the back row.

The PRESIDENT: The minister has indicated that she is a bit impaired in her voice. It was hard to hear. If we could listen to the minister in silence, it would be appreciated.

Jaclyn SYMES: Sorry, Ms Bath. I was going through the fact that personnel and aviation resources have been facilitated to be earlier this year, so funding has been brought forward in anticipation of an earlier start. In relation to fuel management, as of 17 September FFMVic has led the delivery of fuel management treatments across 3173 hectares this financial year, including planned burns and non-planned burns, and some of that is continuing subject to conditions. Seasonal weather did reduce availability for burn activity, unfortunately, in autumn. Landscape dryness prevented safe conditions for early planned burning. Rain and subsequent drying by mid-April allowed FFMVic to have a late season window to deliver the majority of the burn program. I will continue to be updated on this. We have got some scheduled works for November hopefully, including through this month. I am very happy to provide you with some of those activities. As I said, we are concerned about an early start, and we have therefore made our resources available.

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:30): Thank you, Minister. My understanding, which I received from your information, is FFMV has so far done 3100 hectares of fuel reduction. Minister, the latest publicly available data says that around 110 hectares were treated across Victoria’s 8 million hectares of public land, and that data, which is publicly available, is for 2024–25. Clearly 3100 is well down on that, so I need you to check that and see what is the total. That is about 1 per cent on last year’s average. Government has failed to do this homework. It has failed to do the work on the ground. The bushfires royal commission said a 5 per cent rolling target. Why should regional Victorians have any confidence that bushfire mitigation is keeping pace with the risks that exist today, ahead of the bushfire season?

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: There was a point of order earlier that we could not hear the minister. From all sides of the chamber, let us listen to the minister.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:31): I thank Ms Bath. Ms Bath, I am happy to get you as much detail as I can. You referred to the 2024–‍25 report. In 2025–26 FFMVic led the delivery of fuel management treatments across 73,301 hectares. And coming back to your earlier question around preparedness and some of the information I am able to provide you, I can confirm that there will be the attestation briefing for all members of Parliament, as is the annual thing, in October. Anything that you would like in advance of that, please let me know, and I will make sure it is available.