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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (5 March) . . Page.. 589 ..

MR PRATT (continuing):

bushfire prevention programs available in the education system which schools can tap into, so somebody has recognised a use and a need for that type of training somewhere. I would commend the minister to check those out and hopefully look at taking those on board as a mandatory-

Mr Corbell: She said that. The minister has said that.

MR PRATT: She said that when?

Mr Corbell: Just now.

MR PRATT: Thank you, Mr Corbell. You are being so helpful today. Mr Speaker, if planning was under way to include bushfire education at Birrigai, as pointed out by Ms Dundas, then I welcome that.

Ms Dundas: It is part of the program of outdoor education.

MR PRATT: Yes, that is fine; that is when the Birrigai program gets back up and running again. But it still begs the question: what about bushfire education for secondary students? There is still a need that has to be met there. I was not aware that a mandatory education program had already been put in place at Birrigai. If that is the case, we would certainly welcome it.

Mr Speaker, it is not good enough for any responsible authority in the ACT or, for that matter, any other jurisdiction in this country-and I am talking about suburban bushfire prevention programs-to ignore the concept of proactive preventative bushfire emergency planning in our vulnerable suburbs and our vulnerable townships. I believe these programs should have been implemented years ago. I thank Ms Tucker for pointing out that there are recommendations going back to 1995 by various committees that have identified these as issues that need to be addressed. I would, therefore, support her call to the government to move on with those recommendations and see that they are implemented.

Mr Speaker, scarce resources and under-trained firefighters are challenges that will need to be overcome, but they cannot be obstacles to the implementation of these types of suburban programs. I think those are challenges which can be met. We cannot accept the loss of more lives and property.

It can be well argued that residents can be better prepared and their losses reduced if they are instructed by experts in respect of preparation, particularly evacuations. I believe that if residents in front-line streets are at least taken through the principles of evacuation, instructed to pack essential belongings, advised where to locate cars for an easier controlled evacuation, and briefed on the fine timing between how long to stay to fight a fire in and around their property and when they must choose to abandon their property, they will stand a better chance of getting away with more of their precious possessions and belongings.

Mr Speaker, clearly the amended motion will get up. I would be quite happy if Minister Wood and Minister Gallagher, who put forward the amendment, could undertake-I will not ask them to guarantee-that the issues dealt with by the various inquiries will be put

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