Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister may proceed.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Earlier in question time today the member for La Trobe asked me a question. His question was: ‘I refer the Prime Minister to the concern expressed by school principals in my electorate about the quality of their bushfire refuges and their belief that the proposed upgrades will be insufficient. I further refer the Prime Minister to my unanswered letter to him of 16 June 2009 regarding the immediate need for the highest quality fire refuges for schools in the Dandenong Ranges.’

I would draw the honourable member’s attention in the first instance to the reply from my parliamentary secretary, dated six weeks ago, which, in turn, referred to a following substantive reply from the Attorney-General to him, which is dated 15 September.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I simply wish to complete the answer. This letter is dated 15 September.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The 15th?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I am simply reflecting accurately—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! If the House would come to order and simply listen.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The letter of my parliamentary secretary is dated six weeks ago. It acknowledged the honourable member’s letter and indicated that a substantive letter would be coming from the honourable the Attorney-General. The honourable the Attorney-General’s letter is dated 15 September, and I would say—

Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Public Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is happening, Prime Minister?

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the House would come to order the Prime Minister might get an opportunity to indicate what is happening.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The honourable member has raised a serious matter concerning the bushfires. It is important that the House have this response. The letter from the Attorney-General says the following: ‘Thank you for your letter of 16 June to the Prime Minister raising your concerns for the upcoming bushfire season and outlining a range of suggested mitigation measures. The Prime Minister has referred your letter to me, as the Commonwealth bushfire mitigation activities fall within my portfolio.’ That is from the Attorney-General.

He then goes on to say, ‘In the 2009 federal budget I, the Attorney, announced funding of $110 million over four years for the Natural Disaster Resilience Program, the NDRP. This is a national program aimed at identifying and addressing disaster risk priorities.’ It then goes on to say, ‘The NDRP will consolidate the existing Bushfire Mitigation Program, the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program and the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund. This will enable states and territories to more effectively prioritise and address the risks of a range of natural disasters and streamline the associated measures and responses. This initiative will commence from 1 July 2009.’

He goes on to say, ‘Given that the NDRP will be administered by the states and territories, who will prioritise the areas for funding within their jurisdictions, it is appropriate for the Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group to contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services’—

Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Public Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Wood interjecting

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

can I just suggest to the honourable member for La Trobe and to the House that it is useful simply to place this on record because it contains within it relevant provisions which the member can activate if he has not been able to do so already—‘the honourable Bob Cameron MP, to ascertain eligibility for funding for sirens and other audible and visual warning systems described in the Federal Signal Co proposals that were forwarded with your letter. Fire refuges could also be raised in this context. This will enable the Victorian government to consider your proposal in the context of the NDRP.’

Can I simply say that that goes to the substance of the funding provided—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It’s a fob-off!

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it goes to the funding provided to states and territories to deal with a range of these matters. Secondly, it provides advice to the honourable member that that is to where a particular application should be made.

But I go back to what I said in question time: as with the member for Macmillan, the member for McEwen and other members in bushfire affected areas, I am happy to discuss these matters further individually with the member for La Trobe, as I have extended that courtesy to others and I will continue to do so in the future.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Would the member for O’Connor and the member for Fadden just wait for a little while. The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government is seeking indulgence, and I would hope that the House would listen before they are motivated to act in any other way.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think there is another honourable member who will wish to make a comment at this time as well.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.