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Interim Report Highlights Need For Govt Action, Not SpinThe onus is on the Brumby Government to act upon the 51 recommendations outlined in the Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report, the Nationals’ Member for Morwell Russell Northe said today. By Russell Northe - 21st August 2009 - Back to News Mr Northe said many locals contributed to the Commission’s undertakings by providing written submissions or attending consultation sessions in Traralgon and Boolarra and he believed there would be great interest in the findings.
"The Interim Report reads as a long list of government failures and makes a number of recommendations that the Brumby Government has ignored in previous inquiries over the past 10 years," the Morwell MP said.
"In particular the Interim Report highlights a number of deficiencies in Victoria’s emergency communication systems which were found wanting at the time they were most needed."
Mr Northe said the report calls for detailed early warnings, providing people with sufficient information upon which to decide whether to leave early or stay and defend their home.
"It is common sense that timely and accurate communications must underpin the ‘stay or go’ policy," he said.
"Explicit information on the severity, location, predicted direction and likely time of impact must be readily available to all residents at all times.
"There is also recognition of a role for sirens in warning local communities, which undoubtedly helped spare the Boolarra community from loss of life in late January; greater use of commercial and community radio and more flexible management of road blocks."
Mr Northe said the Interim Report makes further recommendations around the establishment of refuges or ’safer’ places.
"This matter has been raised by a number of local residents and I am pleased to see the Commission’s Interim Report refer to such prospective measures," he said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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