Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As I speak, Northern Territory emergency services are battling a bushfire in the Barkly region more than 9,300 square kilometres in size. That's four times the size of the ACT. A total fire ban has been extended today for another 24 hours across the Northern Territory. Extreme fire weather is being forecast for the remainder of the week. A watch-and act-emergency warning has been issued for Tennant Creek. Emergency services have warned against any unnecessary travel into the Barkly region.

I want to acknowledge—as the member for Lingiari has already done—the hard work and dedication of our firefighters and all emergency service workers at this difficult time; that's full-time volunteer firies, Bushfires NT and all firies in the Northern Territory. My brother is a firefighter in Darwin, and my uncle, in Melbourne, was a firefighter for 40 years. Fires are incredibly ferocious and dangerous things, so I appreciate the dangers and challenges endured by our first responders, including my nephew, Clancy, who is an ambulance officer. We owe them a great deal. I also recognise the work of community organisations and members along the way. It's a very difficult time. These fires have led to highway closures. Let's give them all the support that we can.

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