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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2538 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

and often in very stressful, sometimes distressing, times. But these times are often less dramatic for the nation than Thredbo. It is especially significant to remember that this community spends a lot of money training its emergency services personnel in the hope that we will never have to put the training into effect but in the knowledge that at some time that training will be desperately needed. We should also pay tribute to the families behind those people. Many wives, husbands, partners and children were left behind in Canberra for days at a time, not knowing how the stress of this monumental task was affecting their loved ones. To them we also extend that community support, as we do on each occasion their services are needed.

I welcome the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday of changes to the honours and awards system for better recognition of rescue workers in cases like Thredbo. In fact, only last week the Chief Minister wrote to the Prime Minister recommending a new award for people who play a role in major disasters. The Prime Minister's announcement yesterday is a welcome step in that direction.

In closing, Mr Speaker, I want to read an extract from a letter I received just days after the Thredbo landslide from Geoff Williams, the deputy firemaster of the Central Scotland Fire Brigade, who was in Canberra in November 1995 attending an urban search and rescue training course. Mr Williams says:

I would like to formally record my sincere admiration at the skilful dexterity the Urban Search and Rescue Teams of the Australian Emergency Services have displayed throughout this specific disaster rescue operation.

Their courage and tenacity has been outstanding. To many people without the trained eye it could appear, occasionally, that little effort was being applied to the rescue operation. I can assure you nothing could be more from the truth. These teams have acted with the type of discipline that is absolutely essential for such a hazardous environment. One small removal of a small brick or piece of timber without first analysing the reaction could be the catalyst collapse point to the whole scene. The collapse site could rapidly become an even bigger death trap, and cause even more grief to the stricken community and to the families of the rescue team.

Australia can be proud of their Urban Search & Rescue Teams, especially those from the ACT and New South Wales Fire Brigades. They have displayed excellent professionalism.

As a fellow USAR professional, I can confirm the world has watched with a critical microscope as this rescue effort developed. I am delighted to acknowledge that the Australian USAR Teams have shown the rest of the world how to quickly learn and develop knowledge and skills of the highest quality and, what is most important, practically apply them in the most dangerous environment.

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