Ms ANDERSON - 2011-03-31
In response to my question to parliament in February about the under-resourcing of Bushfires NT in Central Australia, you stated that the government has fully resourced Bushfires NT with equipment, materials and training needed to get out there and fight the serious issue of bushfires. If your statement was true, why has Treasury recently released further funds for Bushfires NT in response to my question? How many further staff will be employed with this funding? Will Bushfires NT now be able to provide bushfire fighting training to those who request it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her very important question. It was my pleasure to meet with the Bushfire Council yesterday at their meeting in Alice Springs and talk through many of those issues raised by the member for Macdonnell. They are very important issues. We know that with the recent rains in Central Australia and across the Northern Territory we are facing what could be one of the worst fire seasons in the Territory’s history.
Some of those issues talked about yesterday were staffing and resources. There are positions, particularly in Alice Springs, where there are many difficulties besides the issue the member for Macdonnell raised regarding budget matters. There are issues of recruiting staff to regions, and very difficult issues with accommodation and recruiting the appropriate people at the right levels to positions such as fire coordinators and controllers. I am certainly aware of those issues. I am working hard with the Bushfires Council. I assured them at their meeting yesterday that I will endeavour to do the best I can around the Cabinet table to secure more funding and more resources.
I also call on Central Australians - those listening to the broadcast and those in the galleries - to sign up as volunteers. A very important part of fighting bushfires is not only brigades in the regions but the volunteers out there - the pastoralists, the Aboriginal landowners and landholders out there on the ground.
We have a proud record in this government of supporting the Bushfires Council. We have the NAFI system that, when the funding from the Commonwealth ceased, this government came in with $800000 to continue that very important tool that is used by the Bushfire Councils and landowners, whether they are Aboriginal landowners or the pastoralists.
We are also very proud to fund a mobile command centre. When we had the recent Howard Springs fires, I went up in a chopper and visited the Batchelor brigade. It was my pleasure to visit the mobile command centre. I said to the Bushfires Council yesterday I would like to see that command centre placed in the region somewhere as the impending bushfire season comes upon us.
I am able to reassure people that we are aware of the impending fire season. I am adequately satisfied at the moment that we have the resources. There are challenges in recruiting staff in the regions, as I have said, particularly accommodation and attracting the right people for the right job. I will continue to fight with my colleagues for the dollars. We are all in there.
I take on board the question. I am happy to offer the member for Macdonnell a full briefing. I know she was the minister for a short time, but I am happy to provide a full briefing on the issues she has raised.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her very important question. It was my pleasure to meet with the Bushfire Council yesterday at their meeting in Alice Springs and talk through many of those issues raised by the member for Macdonnell. They are very important issues. We know that with the recent rains in Central Australia and across the Northern Territory we are facing what could be one of the worst fire seasons in the Territory’s history.
Some of those issues talked about yesterday were staffing and resources. There are positions, particularly in Alice Springs, where there are many difficulties besides the issue the member for Macdonnell raised regarding budget matters. There are issues of recruiting staff to regions, and very difficult issues with accommodation and recruiting the appropriate people at the right levels to positions such as fire coordinators and controllers. I am certainly aware of those issues. I am working hard with the Bushfires Council. I assured them at their meeting yesterday that I will endeavour to do the best I can around the Cabinet table to secure more funding and more resources.
I also call on Central Australians - those listening to the broadcast and those in the galleries - to sign up as volunteers. A very important part of fighting bushfires is not only brigades in the regions but the volunteers out there - the pastoralists, the Aboriginal landowners and landholders out there on the ground.
We have a proud record in this government of supporting the Bushfires Council. We have the NAFI system that, when the funding from the Commonwealth ceased, this government came in with $800000 to continue that very important tool that is used by the Bushfire Councils and landowners, whether they are Aboriginal landowners or the pastoralists.
We are also very proud to fund a mobile command centre. When we had the recent Howard Springs fires, I went up in a chopper and visited the Batchelor brigade. It was my pleasure to visit the mobile command centre. I said to the Bushfires Council yesterday I would like to see that command centre placed in the region somewhere as the impending bushfire season comes upon us.
I am able to reassure people that we are aware of the impending fire season. I am adequately satisfied at the moment that we have the resources. There are challenges in recruiting staff in the regions, as I have said, particularly accommodation and attracting the right people for the right job. I will continue to fight with my colleagues for the dollars. We are all in there.
I take on board the question. I am happy to offer the member for Macdonnell a full briefing. I know she was the minister for a short time, but I am happy to provide a full briefing on the issues she has raised.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016