John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The bushfire crisis is a national emergency that has resonated deep in the hearts of every Australian in their day-to-day lives. The bushfire season beginning in September has been unprecedented and struck tragedy in our homeland. Over the past four months we've witnessed the extent of the damages that the bushfires have inflicted upon our rural communities, wildlife and environment. Two thousand and nineteen has been cited as Australia's hottest and driest year, in which a fire of this magnitude has raged uncontrolled. The number of homes destroyed has soared into the thousands, the latest figure being over 2,400 in New South Wales alone. Thousands have faced the loss of not only their homes but also their livelihoods. Some have tragically lost their lives to the fires.

The bushfires have carried not only a social and human cost but also an environmental and economic cost. Upward of 10 million hectares have been scorched by the bushfires and left unrecognisable. The relentless burning of bushfires has released huge carbon emissions into the atmosphere. It has also left water undrinkable, with residents being told to boil their water—if it is in fact available. Millions of animals have been killed, injured or displaced by the fires. Businesses from farms to tourism have already taken a $1 billion hit. This disheartening situation calls for major reform in our policies in order to mitigate and prepare for natural disaster crises that have been spurred by climate change.

In the midst of this crisis Australians have come together, as we always do in times of crisis. The efforts that have been made by resilient Australian communities is something we can all take great pride in. People across the country have donated money—millions and millions of dollars—as well as time and effort to help those who are suffering. There are currently over 3,000 mentions of bushfire crowdfunding sites and GoFundMe. The generosity of Australians who share our nation as their home has been immeasurable and very noteworthy. There's Nick Kyrgios's charity. It was his initiative to get his fellow great players to play a charity event before the Australian Open, raising over $5 million. Local business champions like Leigh Smart—well, no-one is like Leigh Smart; he has been herculean—and local schools, like Meadowbank Public School, have given money and services generously. Even our local pharmaceutical industry has been helicoptering in medicines to make sure that nobody has gone without their treatments, even if the roads were cut.

The resilience and kindness that our communities have demonstrated is a silver lining in this catastrophic event. But the greatest thanks must go to the firefighters. They have stood resolutely in the face of these flames, in some devastating cases making the ultimate sacrifice while trying to save lives and property. There are stories of bravery coming from all corners of the country, and to thank people individually to the level they each deserve would take a very long time. I just want everyone to know the deep respect and thankfulness that we have for all fireys. There are so many kids now who, when they grow up, want to be firefighters.

The elephant in the room, of course, is climate change. Today is a day for commemoration, not politics, but one thing I would like to mention is the need to recognise that these fires are not a warning about climate change; they are climate change. The Leader of the Opposition mentioned that this is not normal. I fear this is actually the new normal. In focusing on saving this country for our grandchildren, we risk forgetting that we need to save it for our neighbours. Obviously we must mitigate future risks and change our ways, but we also must adapt, because these longer, hotter summers will be our new normal. If we are to be a mature nation, we must be proactive in adapting our local infrastructure and the way we live, lest we risk succumbing to this new normal.

Much of the language around fires relates to war. We have been at war. Fires leave casualties, weariness and destruction. Both fires and war leave suffering in their wake, and we fight them with a total community effort. We have fought with our allies, the Americans and our great friends the New Zealanders. As a war hero once said to me, 'It is a great tragedy of war that it's only in war that we find the heroes that live amongst us.'

People have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their dreams and, in some tragic cases, their lives. The news has brought tragic stories of those who have lost, but those pictures on the screen do not do justice to the true horror of being at a fire front—the jet-engine roar of a fire, the unimaginable heat and the fear of tiny embers and fluke winds. Those who have been through this terrifying ordeal will never forget and, while the road to recovery may be long, Australia's tragic history with fires shows us that the trees, houses and towns will regrow. It won't be easy, but Australia is there with you. We are more united as a people than ever.

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