Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt, on a very serious subject. Minister, currently my state of New South Wales is being impacted by around 50 fires that are burning at advice level. In the past four weeks we've seen significant fire activity across New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. And, in Victoria, we saw concurrent fires and floods. Can the minister please advise the Senate on what the Commonwealth is doing to support these communities?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon, for your ongoing interest in these issues. Can I start by acknowledging that there are a number fires currently burning at advice level in New South Wales, and of course there are also bushfires underway in Queensland and the Northern Territory. In terms of the New South Wales fires, Senator Sheldon, while at this stage there is no immediate threat to communities, it is important that people who live in the vicinity of those fires monitor the NSW Rural Fire Service's website or Hazards Near Me app in case there is a change in conditions. I've seen some weather forecasts for the next week which indicate quite a lot of hot and windy weather coming across the continent, so we all really need to stay aware of conditions in our local communities.

In addition, as you would have seen, this week we received the very sad confirmation that a man died in a fire near Kempsey, in New South Wales. While investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding that incident, I'd like to send our deepest condolences to that man's family, friends and community. That death is a stark reminder of the types of fast-moving and erratic fires we are expecting to see this fire season, and I really do ask everyone to have a plan in place in advance of fires and, wherever possible, to avoid bushfire risk areas on days of catastrophic fire risk.

In addition, earlier this month we saw fires in the Bega Valley, which impacted upon four homes, and at the very same time we saw in Victoria severe weather and flooding occurring in Gippsland. The Commonwealth has worked with the New South Wales and Victorian governments to activate support for those incidents through our disaster recovery funding arrangements. In New South Wales, assistance has been made available in the Bega Valley shire for eligible people who need assistance following those events. There is essential financial assistance made possible and concessional interest rate loans. In Victoria, assistance has been made available as well.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, a first supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for the update. I'm sure the Senate also sends their condolences to the family of that Kempsey man who lost his life. While fires and floods have already begun impacting on Australia, we know that the season has only just begun. What work has the Commonwealth undertaken to ensure that we are prepared for the natural disaster season?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese government is highly cognisant of the increased level of risk facing communities across the country in the upcoming high-risk weather season. We are continuing to support those communities who are still recovering from two years of successive record-breaking floods, but we've also been preparing for the drying conditions that we're now seeing from El Nino and the switch back to dry and hot conditions that that is causing this summer.

In fact, the Albanese government, through the National Emergency Management Agency, began preparations for the coming disaster season before the last disaster season had even finished, because we knew we were going to be facing difficult conditions this summer. Since then, NEMA has been pressing ahead with an expanded high-risk weather season preparedness program, which has included a disaster recovery funding arrangements roadshow, focused on informing and supporting disaster impacted local governments. Late last month we also held the inaugural high-risk weather season summit here at Parliament House, and I thank all of those who attended.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, a second supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that Australia will face longer and more intense natural disaster seasons due to climate change. Many of us in this room have experienced those consequences in our home states. What work is the Commonwealth undertaking to build a more resilient Australia and ensure that we are prepared for future challenges?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, the Albanese government are tackling the root cause of increasing extreme weather—climate change—by legislating much more ambitious emission reduction targets than we saw previously and doubling our renewable energy projects, because, unlike those opposite, we accept the science of climate change. This week I met with bushfire survivors—

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Explain it to me.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's really sad that in 2023 there are some members of the opposition who still don't accept the science of climate change, but there they are. Even when we're talking about bushfires you reject the science of climate change.

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's the weather.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unbelievable. This is the man who was supported in his preselection by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, I remind you to direct your answers to the chair and invite you to finish.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How are you going to stop it?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unbelievable. And now Senator Canavan is chiming in about the science of climate change when we're talking about bushfires. This week I met with Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action—people who lost their homes and their properties from climate change induced bushfires. It's a real shame that more of you don't take the effort to do it. (Time expired)