Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Ayres and Watt, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC has predicted above normal fire potential across New South Wales and Western Australia throughout December 2020 to February 2021,

(ii) on 17 March 2019, in the lead up to the 2019 Federal election, the Federal Opposition announced a policy to establish a sovereign aerial firefighting fleet, noting that Australia was reliant on overseas aerial firefighting capabilities,

(iii) on 30 October 2020, the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements recommended that the Australian Government establish a sovereign aerial firefighting fleet, noting that 'the increasing duration of fire seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres, and the increasing duration and severity of fire seasons in Australia, will make it increasingly difficult to share aircraft domestically, and to acquire aviation services when we need them', and

(iv) on 13 November 2020, the Australian Government noted but did not support the Royal Commission's recommendation, stating that the Government was 'comfortable' with the current aerial firefighting arrangements; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to support the Royal Commission's recommendation to establish a sovereign aerial firefighting fleet and develop Australia's aerial capability, to ensure that Australians will be protected in future bushfire seasons.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has noted the recommendation relating to the aerial firefighting from the royal commission's final report. Firefighting is the responsibility of state and territory governments. The appropriate aerial firefighting fleet for each jurisdiction is decided by operational experts, not by federal politicians. Nevertheless the federal government will continue to support Australian industry to grow in this area. At present 128 of 158 aircraft contracted are Australian owned and operated. There is an ongoing federal government commitment of more than $25 million a year to support this capability. The government will continue to work with states and territories and rely on the expert advice of their commissioners.

Question agreed to.