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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Thursday, 12 February 2004) . . Page.. 295 ..

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage. Bill agreed to.

Land Tax Bill 2003

Debate resumed from 27 November 2003, on motion by Mr Quinlan:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Question resolved in the affirmative. Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage. Bill agreed to.

Sitting suspended from 12.25 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Bushfires—insurance for firefighters

MR SMYTH: My question is to Mr Wood in his role as the police and emergency services minister. Mr Wood, is it the case that, from the beginning of the bushfire season on 1 October 2003 until 24 December 2003, volunteer bushfire fighters were not indemnified or covered by workers compensation insurance and would therefore be unable to claim compensation if they were injured in the course of their duties?

MR WOOD: Mr Smyth, I am not aware of that. That would be a significant issue. I do not have an immediate memory that anything crossed my desk about it, but I will check that. Certainly, I will come back to you with a clear answer about it.

MR SMYTH: In that case, Mr Wood, would you also find out whether any claims for compensation were made against the government by volunteer bushfire fighters or members of the community fire units during that period, for either active service or while on training?

MR WOOD: Yes, a number of claims were made for loss of property. Is that encompassed in the first part of the question? Certainly, a number of claims, as we know, were the subject of discussion for some little time. To the best of my knowledge—

Mr Smyth: I am talking about this season, the current season, not 18 January last year.

MR WOOD: Oh, were there any compensation claims for the current season? I am not aware of any.

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