Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The ongoing bushfires in western Victoria, particularly in the Grampians and Little Desert National Park, have caused severe damage, as other speakers have discussed. These fires, which ignited in December, have continued to burn into the new year, fuelled by strong winds and extreme heat. As of now, more than 100,000 hectares have been burnt, and conditions remain highly volatile.

Communities in and around Hindmarsh, Horsham and West Wimmera have faced mass evacuations, the destruction of homes and businesses and significant disruptions to daily life. The psychological and financial toll on residence, business owners and emergency responders has been immense. Families have been displaced, and businesses have suffered severe setbacks. The tourism industry, the economic backbone of towns such as Halls Gap, Pomonal, Dunkeld, Dimboola and Nhill, has been particularly hard hit. Road closures, infrastructure damage and widespread cancellations of bookings have left local businesses struggling.

Yet, despite these hardships, the resilience of these communities has been extraordinary. Neighbours have opened their homes to the displaced. Community groups have organised fundraisers, and people from all walks of life have come together to ensure that no-one faces this crisis alone. Their strength and solidarity will be central to the long process of recovery and restoration.

To support these communities, the disaster recovery allowance has been made available to individuals whose livelihoods have been affected by the fires in Hindmarsh, Horsham and West Wimmera. This financial assistance has already been activated for residents in our Ararat, Northern Grampians and Southern Grampians, providing crucial relief to those who have lost income because of these disasters. For small businesses, we recognise the immense strain these fires have placed on operations. The federal government continues to work in partnership with the Victorian government to assess additional assistance measures. For the established disaster recovery funding arrangements, we're co-funding essential relief efforts, including debris removal, counter disaster operations and the restoration of critical infrastructure.

I acknowledge the member for Wannon and the member for Mallee for working collaboratively with the minister throughout this crisis. Their collaborative approach, along with the strong engagement of the Victorian government and Minister Vicki Ward has been instrumental in supporting both immediate relief and the longer-term rebuilding and recovery process. The efforts of our emergency services personnel during this extremely challenging time cannot be overstated. Firefighters, volunteers and first responders from across Victoria and from interstate have worked tirelessly to protect lives and property. I particularly recognise the local CFA crews in my community who have given up their time over the Christmas period to battle these fires and stand ready to defend our communities and those around us. A very special mention must go to the CFA crews from Bacchus Marsh, Blackwood, Melton, Toolern Vale, Myrniong, Greendale, Coimadai, Diggers Rest, Parwan, Rowsley, Eynesbury, Wildwood, Bulla, Balliang, Mount Wallace, Sunbury and the legends at my own brigade in Ballan. These men and women left their families to defend our community and others in extreme and dangerous conditions. Their sacrifice, bravery and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe deserve our deepest gratitude.

This remains a dynamic and dangerous situation. Without significant rainfall, the threat is far from over. The federal government will continue working closely with the Victorian government to assess ongoing needs and provide the necessary resources for recovery. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these devastating fires. We send our best wishes to all those impacted and we stand with you as we rebuild stronger than before. I urge everyone to stay informed by monitoring emergency updates and following the advice of emergency services.

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