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Independent Fire Inquiry Needed

The Nationals have supported calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the January bushfires which ravaged large areas of Victoria, with Gippsland MP Peter Hall suggesting that some elements of the Moondarra fire would benefit from such a review.

By Peter Hall - 13th February 2006 - Back to News

Mr Hall, speaking in Parliament in support of a motion to appoint a select committee to conduct the inquiry, was quick to point out that he felt the fire situation had been very well handled.

However, he said: "There are always some things that could be improved and no doubt people out there will have some thoughts, views and experiences they will want to express. They must be given the opportunity to do so.

"Of course the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will have its own review of the fire, and I commend it for that.

"But a lot of people out there still want some independence in the review process. I think the Parliament is an appropriate body.

Mr Hall said he thought it "inadequate" for the government to rely totally on a DSE review adding that so many other issues were raised out of the fires.

"There is real concern about the bulldozing of fire breaks on private property," he said. "Also concern has been expressed that the fuel control lines in the Grampians had to be established on private property, and that some of the back-burning was undertaken on private property rather than in the park itself, apparently because of native vegetation reasons, which was also the excuse given for not clearing roadsides. These are ridiculous propositions and need to be examined thoroughly.

"Minor issues such as food regulations frustrated people who had gone to a lot of effort to bake trays of cakes and so on for firefighters; they were told that the food could not be accepted because of new food regulations, and that food was wasted.

"People were concerned that properties were left undefended by firefighting units and they want to know why; they want to express a view about that. Again I think it is important that they have that opportunity."

Mr Hall said another relevant issue outside the role of the DSE was equitable sharing of recovery efforts for business and individuals.

He noted that when the Treasurer, John Brumby visited the Moondarra fire site, discussions were only held with business people from Walhalla, with those in Erica not able to attend a meeting.

"Representatives from Walhalla were there talking about the necessity of providing dollars to promote tourism to come back to the Walhalla area after the fire, which is important, but they want to make sure Erica does not miss out."

Mr Hall praised the "exceptional" work of all those involved from the CFA, DSE, timber operators who put their equipment and themselves on the line and the wide range of other people who fought the fires.

He also warned that the fire season is far from over.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com

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