Page 3541 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 September 2019
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and also improve fire behaviour predictions. These tools have been adopted nationally and in the current work of the Emergency Services Agency and EPSDD in the ACT. I have seen firsthand the work of Brian and Adam, which was instrumental in last year’s bushfire season and helped improve responses to fires that occurred.
MR GUPTA: Minister, why are emergency management and preparation so important in the ACT?
MR GENTLEMAN: We are the bush capital. It is important both to protect our environment and to mitigate the risk of bushfires. This is what this government has been doing. The advice I have from the Bushfire Council and the Commissioner for Emergency Services is that our city has never been better prepared. We are prepared because we listen to the experts. We take their advice and back their judgement. This is what an experienced government does.
I spoke about AFAC before. Attending this year’s conference, one of the things that was clear is the high regard that is held across the country for both the ESA and the parks and conservation service. We have some of the best emergency management practitioners in the nation. Between ESA and PCS, we have two very nimble and innovate agencies that make every effort to keep our city safe. I am proud to be able to support them and serve in a government that is providing funding to help with their preparedness and response.
Madam Speaker, these agencies need an experienced government. The last thing this city needs is a shadow minister for reckless indifference being in charge, an inexperienced shadow minister who is on the record as saying that dry conditions should not be a deterrent to undertaking prescribed burns. It is familiar playbook. It is one that says that they will decide when and how burns should occur, one that attacks and undermines our hardworking public servants.
MS CODY: Minister, what steps is the government taking to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season?
MR GENTLEMAN: Climate change of course is having an impact on our environment. This is the clear advice from our scientists and experts. A changing climate also impacts our ability to prepare and respond to bushfires; just look at what is occurring in New South Wales and Queensland. As a former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW wrote last week:
Fires are burning in places where they never used to burn; places that are not adapted to fire and which therefore cannot easily recover.
He also wrote that the inaction of the Morrison and Abbott governments is costing all of us a great deal. He went on to write that it is time for genuine policies on climate change and protection of our unique environment.
This government is acting; we are working to protect our bush capital from bushfires and taking climate change very seriously. We have committed to climate action, something that Canberrans want. The climate change strategy released by the Chief
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