Page 2217 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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This eminent group of 33 former emergency services and firefighting commanders call on us to have integrated and longer term approaches to landscape management and hazard reduction that include substantial and long-term resourcing of forestry and national parks agencies; year-round Indigenous-led cultural and fire management programs; and more support for community-led initiatives.
Many of these matters are already in hand in the ACT, and I thank my colleague Minister Gentleman for both his awareness of and his advocacy on these issues, from the environmental to the emergency management. But, as all of us who have experienced such things know, and those of us who have read the science and listened to the experts, things are, tragically, going to get worse before they get better.
I know that if the ACT Greens have members in the chamber come November we will continue to support and advocate for climate change action, strong environmental stewardship and recognition of the challenges that lie ahead of us, as have been identified by the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action.
We will listen to the reports and recommendations that arise from the review of our local service responses to these catastrophes, and we will do likewise to the scientists who have been warning of these dangers for many years now. We are pleased to support this bill today as the first step in what will be a series of steps we will need to take over the coming years to address the challenges that confront us.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for Advanced Technology and Space Industries, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Urban Renewal) (11.51), in reply: In closing, I thank members for their considered remarks in this debate.
These changes build on a strong legislative framework for managing emergencies in our territory. The bill implements the findings from the report on the review of the whole-of-ACT-government coordination and response during the 2019-20 bushfire season. The recommended amendments to the Emergencies Act make enhancements and equip us to deal with future challenges that may arise.
I thank again our volunteers and staff across the ACT government who helped keep our city safe during this year’s challenging bushfire and storm season. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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