Page 2838 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 29 June 2011
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manager guides where the unit goes. So the question is: is there any threat to the capacity of the ACT government to perform its land management functions and, in particular, its fire management function with uncertainty?
I think the community is entitled to be at least confused and perhaps a little concerned. My office has received a number of emails and telephone calls from various people from various sectors who are very concerned about the changes that are proposed. It was curious to note that on WIN news last night that we actually had an official from the fire management office. I will read the broadcast news alert from the Media Monitors. The summary says:
The ACT is bracing for a coming grassfire season.
The officer goes on to say:
… extra fire fighters are needed for fuel reduction and other jobs. Mark Crosweller, ESA Commissioner, says there’s more grass fuels and growth than past 25yrs. TAMS is searching for 18 more fire fighters needed for rapid deployment to remote areas.
So why the need for change? I do not think that any case has been made for a need for change but the change is certainly causing a great deal of concern in the community. I will come back to the community in a minute. I believe that the regime that is currently in place should remain as it is. I believe that it must also retain appropriate expertise in land management and fire management.
The second matter relates to the way in which humans typically respond to disasters. Considerable research into this matter, particularly with respect to major bushfires, led to the development of the authors of the 2004 bushfire report referring to a thing they called the bushfire cycle. A key issue in this cycle is the issue of complacency. I am worried that we in the ACT are entering that phase right now.
My worry is increased as we see the response of our land to the substantial rain events which have taken place in the last 12 months or so, which of course led to the comments yesterday that there is lots of fuel. The problem now is that there is so much uncertainty about the future of land management, particularly the fire management unit, we actually have to question what we are trying to achieve here.
For the first time in many years they are actually achieving what they set out to do. They actually are getting their five per cent target of fuel reduction done and they are using other techniques. My understanding is the current fire management unit has the approval of all sectors, whether it be the Bushfire Council, who I have spoken to, or the conservation council, who are also aware of what is happening. They are very worried about what they call the dismemberment of the fire management unit.
Initially, I understand that this was all to go ahead on 1 July, but apparently now we have got three weeks consultation with the staff. If the decision has already been made, and quite clearly from the minister’s answer yesterday the decision has been made, consultation now would appear to be shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
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