Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The coalition applauds the tireless work of approximately 350 Tasmanian personnel from the Tasmanian Fire Service, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Tasmania fighting the fires, especially given the inaccessibility by land and because of weather, even air. We also commend the efforts of Emergency Management Australia for their responsiveness on behalf of the Commonwealth. The impressive effort also includes 148 interstate and New Zealand firefighters, four fixed-wing aircraft, including large air tankers, 35 helicopters, large and medium water bombers, personnel carriers and reconnaissance. The coalition wholeheartedly supports the priority effort to protect lives and property in Tasmania and notes that Tasmania continues to identify areas of high ecological value and cultural significance for protection. The Australian government is providing $14.8 million annually to increase national aerial firefighting capability. The Prime Minister has also offered an additional $500,000 to extend national area firefighting capability this summer. Question agreed to.