Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

The issue of bushfires is an important one, particularly when you are mindful of the fact that a number of our bushfires are lit by people deliberately. There are of course cases where it is negligence and it is caused by other means. A while ago, I recall taking this up with the states and territories to seek uniform laws for a Criminal Code offence specifically aimed at bushfires. The question of arson relates primarily to property, buildings and the like, and what we were targeting was the question of where someone is reckless in a park or in the bush—where they behaved with reckless disregard for the consequences of their actions. As I recall, a number of states have implemented specific bushfire offences.

In relation to research on arsonists, I think the Australian Institute of Criminology has done a paper on this—I will get back to the Senate about that. As far as the Attorney-General’s portfolio is concerned, we deal with Emergency Management Australia in relation to the containment of bushfires, bringing together resources for aerial water bombing. But I take it that Senator Brown is asking a question aimed more at the reasons for arson—those people who go about lighting fires, particularly bushfires, as I understand it. I will get back to the Senate if there is anything more I can advise in relation to this matter.