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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3647 ..

Mr Speaker, there are aspects of bushfire fuel management in the ACT that need updating.

Members of the Assembly will recall the serious impacts of the bushfires in Sydney in 1994 together with the more localised impacts in the suburb of Curtin, and a rather large bushfire that started adjacent to the Tuggeranong Parkway in the same year.

An independent consultant engaged by the Parks and Conservation Service was critical of some of the bushfire fuel management practices followed by land managers. That report was undertaken by the former Deputy Chief of the SA Country Fire Service, Howard McBeth. Mr McBeth's report was never accepted by the former government and was put in the bottom draw, never to be seen again.

Until the election that is. During the 1995 election campaign, I released Mr McBeth's report. Not only had its contents been ignored and suppressed by the Follett Government, but to add insult to injury, they refused to pay Mr McBeth for. his work. Immediately upon coming to government, I ordered that payment be made.

I also established a Bushfire Fuel Management Task Force under the Chairmanship of Mr Graham Glenn AO, to review bushfire fuel management practices.

On the 21 August 1995 I released the findings of the Task Force for comment by relevant agencies, interest groups and individuals. During that consultation process a number of comments were received, adding value to the Task Force outcomes.

Without exception it was agreed that the ACT, through its volunteers and departmental bushfire fighters. has an efficient and effective bushfire suppression capability. More, however, is to be done to reduce the potential undesirable effects of bushfires on valued assets and the community by improving our bushfire fuel management practices.

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