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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4397 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (11.34): I move:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

I want to make a couple of quick remarks about the bushfire situation, which, as members will be aware, is bad and certainly is affecting some parts of New South Wales very badly at the moment. Members will be aware that there are a number of places in surrounding New South Wales which are facing critical bushfire situations at the moment. I want to advise the house about the position being taken in the ACT in respect of those matters at the moment.

ACT bushfire fighters have been placed on high alert, as fire conditions in this region have reached a critical level. What that means is that the level of our assistance to other parts of New South Wales may not be as extensive as we would like, in that the needs of our region are themselves quite high and we need to be careful to cover any emergencies that occur within the ACT region. I understand that today, for example, there have been five fires already within the ACT. Obviously, with the conditions as they are at the moment, with very dry weather and high winds, there is a danger of further fires and further problems if fires do break out.

Members will be aware, of course, that two volunteer firefighters in New South Wales have lost their lives today in a tragic incident near Lithgow and two others are in a critical condition in hospital. On behalf of the Assembly, I am sure that we can send our condolences to the families of those who have been killed. Certainly, at the moment, we are providing assistance to New South Wales, particularly the Shire of Yarrowlumla, by backfilling in that shire to allow firefighters in that region to move further north to cover problems in other parts of New South Wales.

We, obviously, stand ready to assist to the extent that we can. Tonight, the Chief Minister has written to the New South Wales Premier, advising him of our readiness to assist in that State's efforts in this regard. Our own conditions permitting, we, of course, stand ready to provide assistance in some areas of New South Wales where real problems are arising at the moment, particularly like areas around Coonabarabran.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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