David Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Three weeks ago, the Canberra community observed the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2023 Canberra fires. Hundreds of homes were destroyed. Sadly, it claimed the lives of four Bean locals: Dorothy McGrath, Alison Tener, Peter Brooke and Doug Fraser.

It initially started as four separate fires, then, fusing together, it created something that we as a city had not faced before. Its ferociousness caught everyone by surprise. With cyclone-strength winds and fire tornadoes, it was a firestorm. At the height of this crisis, our city's brave first responders rose to the challenge. ACT police were assisting with evacuations, ACT and New South Wales fire crews were in Morant Circuit in Kambah working to save houses and ACT paramedics were on the streets conducting welfare checks for those who stayed to defend their property. I remember that day well. I remember coming over the crest of Hindmarsh Drive towards the Woden Valley, to a sky that was black and orange, on the way to assist my parents in Farrer.

My electorate of Bean covers areas that were affected, particularly in Duffy, Holder, Chapman, Kambah and Uriarra. It does not take long for me to run into a resident that was affected by the 2003 bushfires. Lessons were learned, and the ACT now stands ready to deliver the best response for future fires. I would encourage Canberrans and colleagues to take some time to visit the ACT bushfire memorial at Stromlo Forest Park to remember those lives lost and houses damaged.