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Melina Bath opens Australian Timber Trainers Association Conference and emphasises firefighter training amidst timber industry challenges

Melina Bath opens 2023 ATTA Conference, emphasising the importance of firefighter training amid the government's timber industry stance and safety concerns.

By news@gippsland - 27th July 2023 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath has opened the 2023 Australian Timber Trainers Association (ATTA) Conference in Melbourne this week. In her opening address, Ms Bath highlighted the importance of professional training for project firefighters who form the frontline response in bushfire emergencies. Ms Bath said, "Victoria is one of the most fire prone regions in the world and maintaining high standards in training must be a priority. It goes without saying - the better the training, the safer the community."

The Australian Timber Trainers Association (ATTA) holds annual workshops since 1992, rotating locations to engage industry trainers, share experiences, validate assessments, and explore regional issues

Training crisis in Victoria

Ms Bath said, "Critical first responder training is in jeopardy due the Andrews government's green ideology. Not only has the Andrews government ended our hardwood timber industry, but it is a woeful inaction that has seen access to training coupes denied. The situation can only be described as Labor's wicked problem - compromising training has significant repercussions for the safety of rural and regional communities," she said.

Each year in excess of 500 project firefighters undergo training through a Registered Training Organisation or TAFE in preparation for bushfire season. Compliance classes include safe handling of specialised machinery, felling dangerous hardwood trees, chainsaw crosscut, and fire management. Training cannot be replicated in a softwood plantation.

Timber training venue shortage

Ms Bath said timber trainers play an integral role in the professional competency of frontline responders but need a suitable venue for practical instruction. "Victoria faces serious consequences of Labor's blatant refusal to close loopholes in the Timber Code of Practice and halt green lawfare court injunctions."

"Ultimately, any state owned forest can be targeted by green activists and prosecuted by law using the Precautionary Principle. Maintaining excellence in safety training for emergency responders must be a priority."

"The Nationals will continue to pressure the Andrews government to fix the dire problem it's created, for the sake of bushfire first responders, our environment and rural and regional communities," she said.

Pictures from Australian Timber Trainers Association (ATTA) website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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