Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, Deputy Speaker. I know the Prime Minister doesn't hold a hose. All of Australia knows that. But this person, the leader, does hold a pretty important position—he's the Prime Minister of Australia, for goodness sake. Where was he while my community suffered through the worst bushfires in living memory? Where was the support during the devastating floods or through this crippling pandemic? When things were tough, he was completely missing in action. Instead of stepping up, he stepped back. When hard decisions were needed, he stepped away. When we needed this government to show up for us, they weren't there.

Why is this relevant now? 26 October, a week from today, is the two-year anniversary of the day the Gospers Mountain mega fire ignited. The Sunday just passed was the eighth anniversary of the day I lost my own home to bushfire. Bushfire season is serious in my electorate, and it's here. What has this government done to assist bushfire prone communities to be better prepared? Nothing. Are they talking about bushfire preparedness? No. About using Indigenous fire management practices? No. Is there anything about building an additional fire and rescue station and ambulance station west of the Hawkesbury River? No. What are they talking about? Themselves! What are they focused on? An election. And who loses? My community. Not only do you not hold a hose, Prime Minister, but your support of those who do and the communities they fight to protect is pitiful.

Now, to my Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury communities, this is another reminder to prepare yourselves for bushfire season and to revisit your bushfire survival plan. As we know, there are two parts to this: preparing your home and knowing what you will do in case of a bushfire. Don't think that it won't happen to you. I'm the proof. The RFS website has lots of useful information about preparedness. Given that we live in one of the most bushfire prone places on Earth, you need to revisit this regularly. So my wish for you this coming weekend is: go clean your gutters.

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