Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently held a bushfire forum in the high fire risk area of Blackwood in my electorate, with the local state member for Waite, Catherine Hutchesson. I would like to thank the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, who updated us on the federal funding for fuel load reduction in Mitcham and Adelaide Hills, and also the SA minister for emergency services, Joe Szakacs, who told us that the two new quick-response vehicles funded by the federal government are in the heavy-vehicle purchase plan for Sturt Country Fire Service Group this year.

Unfortunately, we are expecting a very tough year, in terms of fire risk, and Associate Professor Dr Douglas Bardsley told us about the impact of climate change and what we can expect from future fires. Holly McCoy and Dale Thompson from CFS talked about bushfire attack levels—how they are calculated and what they mean. Fuel load level, slope, wind speed and temperature can all come together to make an unstoppable fire. Preparation is everything. When we get to catastrophic days, or there's an active fire in your area, it's too late. Fuel load reduction, planting your garden with fire retardant natives and having a bushfire plan are all vital for survival.

I'd also like to thank National Parks and Wildlife Service's Tony Magor and Ian Tanner; Josh Laynes from State Flora; and Joel Caddy, the bushfire preparedness officer from the City of Onkaparinga, who came along and helped us understand how to prepare our properties.