Page 5 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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their lives to respond to the bushfire crisis both here inside the ACT and just across the border in New South Wales. We are planning a number of opportunities, particularly in Tuggeranong, for the community to thank the ESA staff and volunteers for their efforts over this summer.
From the members here in this Assembly to the thousands of people praising the ESA on social media and the tens of thousands who have donated what they could to help our neighbours, our city has displayed tremendous solidarity and compassion during this most difficult time in our region’s history.
I thank the community for their support of our emergency services agencies. The messages and warnings that were so regularly provided were often difficult to hear and difficult to comprehend, but they were delivered in a clear, decisive and effective manner—one of the most important lessons learnt from the 2003 Canberra bushfires. I can say that what we heard from those who were knocking on doors in Canberra’s south—our ACT police officers, SES volunteers and defence force personnel—was that our community was aware of the bushfire risk. Nearly all of them completed the bushfire survival plan, and they were thankful for the effort put in across so many areas of government to protect lives and property.
It has been a long summer; unbelievably, it is still only mid-February and this bushfire season continues. But in this period of relative calm, it is important for us to acknowledge the work of our emergency responders and those that came to their aid, and appreciate the challenging circumstances that our city has faced in the past few weeks.
I commend the motion to the Assembly. This is an opportunity for those in this place to place on the public record our thanks to the emergency service agencies. I know many members will want to speak in this debate, as is appropriate. This is an important opportunity not only to reflect upon the summer but also to focus our minds on what we need to do for summers ahead.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (10.15): I rise today to express the Canberra Liberals’ sincere condolences to the individuals, families and communities who have been affected by the bushfires and storms right across Australia. And we offer our thanks to all those who put their lives at risk in the service of our nation.
This bushfire season has been particularly tumultuous. So much of Australia has been burnt, countless communities are left to rebuild and, most tragically, many lives have been lost. It has been a black summer and one that will be hard to forget.
To the families going through hardship as a result of fires, smoke and storms, we are with you. To the families of the 33 individuals who lost their lives during the fires, our hearts are heavy for you. Every person who died had a life that meant so much to the people around them. They were, and continue to be, loved by their communities and honoured by this nation.
In late January, a third of the ACT and huge portions of our region were devastated by the fires. Some estimate that a billion animals have been lost in fires across Australia this summer. The enormity of this is very hard to comprehend.
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