❓ Ms. Mettam asks about additional funding for prescribed burning. The Minister for Environment announces an extra $20 million investment over four years, funded through royalties for regions, to boost the prescribed burning program.
AnsweredQoN 362Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRESCRIBED BURNING PROGRAM
362. Ms L. METTAM to the
Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the house on his announcement
yesterday regarding additional money for prescribed burning as part of this
year's budget?
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, that was unnecessary. I call you to order for the second
time.
362. Ms L. METTAM to the
Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the house on his announcement
yesterday regarding additional money for prescribed burning as part of this
year's budget?
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, that was unnecessary. I call you to order for the second
time.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Vasse for the question; I know that
this is a very important issue in her electorate, as it is in many other
electorates.
As the member mentioned in her
question, yesterday I had the opportunity, along with the Minister for Regional
Development, to announce that this government will invest an extra $20 million
into our state's prescribed burning program over the next four years.
That money will be funded through the royalties for regions program and it
represents a 50 per cent funding boost towards our prescribed burning program,
which currently sits at around $10 million per annum through the Department of
Parks and Wildlife. This program has a very strong regional focus, and by
running this program —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, member for West Swan, member for Warnbro!
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
take it from the interjections that there is a bit of opposition to this
program, but this program will not only assist us in achieving our targets in
prescribed burning, but also boost our regional capacity as it takes seasonal
workers through that program. It will also fund additional positions and
overtime positions currently in existence within the Department of Parks and
Wildlife, expanding our ability to do night burns, for example, as well as
funding a range of equipment contracts throughout regional communities.
To just address prescribed burning for a moment, prescribed
burning is not a panacea for bushfires. Bushfires are a reality in Western
Australia, particularly in regional areas and certainly in the south west of
Western Australia. However, prescribed burning has consistently been proven the
best management tool we have for responding to bushfire incidents when they
occur. Fifty years of science and experience have gone into this and have
consistently shown —
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
would have thought this was particularly good news for the member for Collie–Preston's
electorate, as we work to achieve the 200 000-hectare target for many of his
constituents. That 200 000 hectares represents 45 per cent of state forest and
national park areas in the south west carrying a fuel load of six years more or
less. Despite the interjections I continue to get from members opposite, the
Liberal–National government strongly supports prescribed burning in
Western Australia. It is our primary fire protection strategy for our
communities. The Department of Parks and Wildlife carries the predominant
responsibility for prescribed burning in the south west; it manages some 46 per
cent of the south west land division. This boost will make a significant
difference as we work to achieve —
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, I have been very patient with you today.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This is a very good news story for regional communities. I continue to detect
an undercurrent of resistance to the prescribed burning program in members
opposite, but I suspect none will come out and publicly take that position.
This government will unequivocally continue to support —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
are very proud of our investment in the prescribed burning program as we
continue to work towards burning targets in the south west.
this is a very important issue in her electorate, as it is in many other
electorates.
As the member mentioned in her
question, yesterday I had the opportunity, along with the Minister for Regional
Development, to announce that this government will invest an extra $20 million
into our state's prescribed burning program over the next four years.
That money will be funded through the royalties for regions program and it
represents a 50 per cent funding boost towards our prescribed burning program,
which currently sits at around $10 million per annum through the Department of
Parks and Wildlife. This program has a very strong regional focus, and by
running this program —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, member for West Swan, member for Warnbro!
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
take it from the interjections that there is a bit of opposition to this
program, but this program will not only assist us in achieving our targets in
prescribed burning, but also boost our regional capacity as it takes seasonal
workers through that program. It will also fund additional positions and
overtime positions currently in existence within the Department of Parks and
Wildlife, expanding our ability to do night burns, for example, as well as
funding a range of equipment contracts throughout regional communities.
To just address prescribed burning for a moment, prescribed
burning is not a panacea for bushfires. Bushfires are a reality in Western
Australia, particularly in regional areas and certainly in the south west of
Western Australia. However, prescribed burning has consistently been proven the
best management tool we have for responding to bushfire incidents when they
occur. Fifty years of science and experience have gone into this and have
consistently shown —
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
would have thought this was particularly good news for the member for Collie–Preston's
electorate, as we work to achieve the 200 000-hectare target for many of his
constituents. That 200 000 hectares represents 45 per cent of state forest and
national park areas in the south west carrying a fuel load of six years more or
less. Despite the interjections I continue to get from members opposite, the
Liberal–National government strongly supports prescribed burning in
Western Australia. It is our primary fire protection strategy for our
communities. The Department of Parks and Wildlife carries the predominant
responsibility for prescribed burning in the south west; it manages some 46 per
cent of the south west land division. This boost will make a significant
difference as we work to achieve —
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston, I have been very patient with you today.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This is a very good news story for regional communities. I continue to detect
an undercurrent of resistance to the prescribed burning program in members
opposite, but I suspect none will come out and publicly take that position.
This government will unequivocally continue to support —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
are very proud of our investment in the prescribed burning program as we
continue to work towards burning targets in the south west.
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