Page 2023 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 4 June 2019
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One of the top priorities for the ACT government during a public safety situation or emergency is the provision of timely advice to the community. Due to the dynamic and volatile nature of these types of situations, public information about risks to public safety and the actions authorities need the community to follow are issued very quickly. It is often the case that I am being briefed on matters almost in parallel with the same information being provided to the community.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work of ACT RFS volunteers and staff and the ACT parks and conservation staff in their continued efforts to keep the ACT community safe from the impact of bushfires. The length of this season is being felt by many of our volunteers who have given of their time responding to bushfire here in the ACT, engaging with the community and deploying interstate and internationally. I commend all emergency services volunteers who continue to answer the call and protect our community. I also thank the families, friends, partners and workplaces of these volunteers whose support enables them to contribute to the continued protection of our community.
I thank the ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Fire & Rescue for continued support and coverage of the urban area over the bushfire season when a lot of the focus is turned to the bushfire risk in rural areas. Similarly, I thank all areas of ACT government for their responsiveness and readiness to assist the community during extreme incidents and weather. Finally, I thank the ACT Bushfire Council for their advice and support to me in my role as minister. I appreciate the work the council has undertaken and the provision of the annual bushfire seasonal preparedness report. This is another example where the ACT community can be confident that they continue to live in one of the safest cities in the world, with well-trained, well-resourced and well-governed emergency services.
The government is acutely aware of the threat that bushfires present to our city. This is a threat that will become increasingly challenging because of the climate changes that global warming is bringing. We will continue to make the investments needed to deal with this as our city grows. Our city is well prepared, better prepared than ever before, and this is because of the hard work of all the professionals across government and of course our volunteers.
This season was one of the toughest since 2003, and these men and women have done a stellar job in difficult conditions. Once again, thank you.
In closing, I thank the ESA Commissioner, Dominic Lane. Mr Lane left at the end of May after keeping our city safe for seven bushfire seasons. He is beginning the next chapter of his career helping South Australia as their South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission Chief Executive. We all thank Commissioner Lane for his contribution and wish him a successful future as he progresses his career. I present the following paper:
End of bushfire season—Ministerial statement, 4 June 2019.
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