Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of Family First, I want to offer condolences and prayers to the families and friends of the more than 100 people who died in the devastating Victorian bushfires over the weekend. This is an unbelievable tragedy still unfolding by the hour as firefighters continue to count the unimaginable loss that is so horrific and so personal. So many have lost loved ones, homes, farms, businesses and livelihoods.

Like many Victorians, my wife and I spent an agonising time over the weekend trying to reach friends and family who live in areas wiped out by the fires. I have friends in Marysville who are SES volunteers. We finally managed to get through to them this morning. They told us they escaped the town with nothing more than their SES overalls. They are in shock and they are numb, yet they are counting their blessings—they are alive. The interesting part is that, as they were out saving someone else—a woman in a car that a tree had fallen over on—their own house was about to be burnt. My brother lives around the Kinglake area. When we were last in contact yesterday, he had a car packed to send his wife and children away and was preparing to fight the fires with some of our other brothers. Last night we heard he was okay but were not able to raise him. I have just spoken to him and he is fine.

Yesterday, I met with firefighters from my local Country Fire Authority who were heading out into the Yarra ranges. Some had just come back. Once again, they were standing firm against raging fire to protect lives and properties. When you hear the stories of 200-foot and higher walls of smoke and red flames and a noise like two jet engines—I have never seen it or had to experience it before but many have—it is just horrific. I take my hat off to the firefighters, volunteers and SES people who have had to face that. Victoria’s emergency services and those from other parts of Australia that have rallied to support them are indeed heroes. We may never hear their stories but we know that they are there. I say to those men and women, ‘Thank you.’

Events like this change your perspective. It just makes me wonder what we are doing here today when there are so many other important things we could be doing to help people in fire devastated areas. The school my daughter attends has just halted all classes and is meeting to decide how they as a community can help. This is what we all need to do, not just for the next few days but for the next few months and longer—for as long as it is needed—to help our fellow Victorians come to terms with their devastating loss and to do whatever it takes to help them rebuild their homes and their lives. It is this hope that we need to hold on to. It is this hope that we need to offer our fellow Victorians who are devastated. There is no way we can let nature take lives like this without actually standing with them and rebuilding these local communities. It is this hope we must hold on to.