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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (30 January) . . Page.. 10 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

One significant outcome of a major disaster such as we have experienced will be the cost of rebuilding houses, community infrastructure (buildings, bridges, signs, trees and so on); replacing water assets, power poles and cables; revegetating our water catchments; and rebuilding major assets such as Mount Stromlo and Tidbinbilla.

Of course, not all the costs of replacing these assets will be a cost on the ACT community. Much of the cost impost should be met from insurance proceeds and funds from the disaster relief provisions maintained by the federal government. We must appreciate, though, that some unexpected costs will have to be met from the ACT budget.

We in the opposition will be vigilant in ensuring that, while the funding of recovery activities is facilitated, the government maintains appropriate control over ACT finances and does not unnecessarily threaten or reduce ongoing government programs and activities.

We should recognise the excellent job done by the recovery centre, which-according to the newspaper this morning-has helped over 900 Canberra residents. To those at the centre and to their new minister, I say well done.

I also commend the way the community has embraced the centre. For example, when a call went out on 2CN, through Louise Maher's program, for some flowers to be taken to Lyons to brighten the place up, Louise was back on the air within 20 minutes saying, There are enough flowers. Thank you."That is the way Canberrans respond, to our credit.

Further into the recovery phase, a particular issue will arise. It is the form in which houses that have been destroyed should be rebuilt. Should these houses be subject to current building standards or something higher? Whatever we do, Mr Speaker, the people of Duffy and Chapman have told me they want their suburbs back, and we should do all we can to balance their need to re-create what has been lost with the need for fireproof design.

I would like to present some thoughts on activities we could initiate as a response to the bushfires. There are three matters I would like to suggest. Firstly, I believe there needs to be some recognition of all the emergency personnel who have contributed in so many ways to overcoming the bushfire disaster. I suggest that an appropriate medal be struck and awarded to all those who took part in this magnificent effort-the firefighters, the police, those managing the emergency activities from ESB headquarters, and other emergency personnel. Perhaps the mint, which had its own close encounter with bushfires in 2001, could help design such a medal for us. The government rightly gave firefighters the green lapel pin last year. But an event of this size challenges us to do even more for our volunteers. This has been a major emergency, and I believe that those who have participated, in whatever way, should be recognised by the community for their efforts in a tangible and visible way.

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