Page 3336 - Week 11 - Thursday, 11 November 2021
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MS BERRY: No, I have not, actually. I have really encouraged teaching professionals to engage with the ACT government in developing an education strategy for the ACT, and they have. We continue to work really closely with them and the Australian Education Union to ensure that we meet their needs, and we will continue to do that with the setting up of this task force.
Bushfire preparation—Brindabella electorate
MR DAVIS: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, today I joined the Minister for the Environment to speak about the launch of the air quality strategy, but prevention is better than cure. I trust you appreciate your Tuggeranong community’s vulnerability to bushfires and the effects that the smoke haze of the Black Summer bushfires had on our constituents. What is the ACT government doing specifically in Tuggeranong to ensure that our community is best prepared for the summer?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Davis for his question and, of course, his support for those people in Tuggeranong, which is my electorate as well. The ACT Emergency Services Agency and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service are doing a fantastic job in preparedness and readiness for the 2021-22 high-risk weather season. The whole of the ACT, including Tuggeranong, is well prepared—better prepared than ever before. This is because of the hard work of all of our staff across government and, of course, our volunteers.
With the recent rainfall, we anticipate bushfire risk will remain low throughout November and December, however, when the grass begins to cure over summer it will bring some increased threat of grass fires. So ESA and our volunteer crews have been working with our rural landholders, as well, across Tuggeranong to be prepared for the season.
I congratulate John Lillyman and the Amberly Farm on their preparedness for their season. Each year they prepare for the season and assist ESA in communicating to the whole community what we can do in preparedness—that is, a strong message to our community: make sure you are bushfire prepared. Go to the ESA website and download your bushfire preparedness plan for this summer. Tell your friends and family what you are doing over the summer period and be prepared. You can do that at the ESA website.
MR DAVIS: Minister, what ACT government resources are available to help Tuggeranong residents to prepare their families and their homes for the bushfire season?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Davis for the supplementary question. As I was saying, resources available at the ESA website and through ESA and our volunteers as well. That is not just our RFS sheds that prepare resourcing for the season but also our stations throughout the outer edges of our suburbs in preparation for the fire season, make sure they talk to their neighbours and the people in their community about being prepared.
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