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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4577 ..

Mrs Littlewood: They might not have known who you were.

MR HUMPHRIES: That is possible. They might not. Mr Speaker, I am satisfied with the steps taken so far. As I say, I do not propose to do further than I have done, which is to make sure that the Electoral Commissioner is advised of the matter.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I wish to ask a supplementary question. Minister, will you advise the Assembly of the date of the Cabinet meeting at which that decision was made?

MR HUMPHRIES: I will find out and I will advise you.

MS HORODNY: My question is directed to Mr Humphries in his role as Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, you would be aware that last week it was very hot and dry in Canberra and that at the very beginning of the week there was a total fire ban declared in the ACT. You would also be aware that bushfires are currently raging across New South Wales and that New South Wales has a total fire ban in place. It has come to my attention, however, that the total fire ban in the ACT was lifted last week, just before the FAI car rally commenced in Canberra. As you would know, during a total fire ban the access roads through the ACT pine forests are closed to the public to prevent any possibility of a fire starting in these areas. If a total fire ban had been in place over last weekend, then the FAI car rally could not have been held, as planned, in the pine forests. As it happened, I heard on the news that a couple of small fires were started along the edge of the rally track from sparks from the cars, but luckily they were extinguished quickly. Minister, could you explain the basis on which the total fire ban was lifted last week? Was it because of pressure to not stand in the way placed on the Chief Fire Control Officer by elements in the Government and the bureaucracy who have been promoting this FAI car rally? Was the Government creating a significant risk to the community and ACT forests by holding this rally at such a bushfire prone time?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I have to say that I am disappointed with the tenor of the question; but it does rather fit in with some other questions that Ms Horodny has asked in the past, which have suggested that controls or appropriate decision-making in other parts of government have been unofficially affected by the requirements of something like the FAI Rally of Canberra. As I recall, the last time this allegation arose, it was in respect of making environment grants available to fix up damage supposedly caused to the banks of Lake Burley Griffin or somewhere like that from - - -

Ms Tucker: Just answer the question.

MR HUMPHRIES: I will answer the question. I am just putting this in context. Mr Speaker, I think that it is quite unjust to make that suggestion. The ministry does not make decisions about the times when total fire bans are applied. Those decisions are made, as you indicated, by the Chief Fire Control Officer. They are made entirely on the basis of the need for the community to protect against the starting of fires.

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