❓ Opposition MP Redman questions the Minister for Emergency Services, Logan, about funding cuts to the enhanced prescribed burning program. Minister Logan refutes the claim, stating the government has increased funding for bushfire mitigation.
AnsweredQoN 181Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENHANCED PRESCRIBED
BURNING PROGRAM
181. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the McGowan government's
cut of more than $2 million of royalties for regions funding from the enhanced
prescribed burning program outlined in the mid-year financial review.
(1) Does the
minister agree that this funding cut will threaten the state's capacity
to maintain the low fuel buffers necessary for effective firefighting?
(2) As the Minister
for Emergency Services and the minister who will be front and centre in a major
bushfire event, what is he doing to ensure the state meets its fuel reduction
targets and secures the safety of our south west and hills communities?
BURNING PROGRAM
181. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the McGowan government's
cut of more than $2 million of royalties for regions funding from the enhanced
prescribed burning program outlined in the mid-year financial review.
(1) Does the
minister agree that this funding cut will threaten the state's capacity
to maintain the low fuel buffers necessary for effective firefighting?
(2) As the Minister
for Emergency Services and the minister who will be front and centre in a major
bushfire event, what is he doing to ensure the state meets its fuel reduction
targets and secures the safety of our south west and hills communities?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) For
someone who claims to be the opposition spokesperson for emergency services, I am
surprised the member for Warren–Blackwood has not read more about this
and taken notice of all the things we have done over the last year in the area
of bushfire mitigation and the answers I have given to questions in this house.
The member has even been at some of the forums himself where we have announced
what we are doing.
Mr D.T. Redman : So why did
you cut funding?
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Let us not go
through this where I start answering and the member for Warren–Blackwood
immediately interjects on me. Let me answer the question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, if you
want to hear the answer, be quiet.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Let us do
that today instead of the member continuing to interject on me. I will answer
his question.
It was quite clear in the budget
last year how we would not only replace the royalties for regions funding that
his government had not committed to when he was in government, but also enhance
it. In total, we have $35 million—not $2 million—available for
the first time ever for mitigation on state land.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : The second
thing we did was enhance royalties for regions funding for local governments.
Remember, the member's government had not made provision for it.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : I do not know
why we go through this.
The SPEAKER : Member, you
have an opportunity for a supplementary, but if you keep interjecting, you will
not.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : The member
for Warren–Blackwood knows exactly how it is supposed to be funded, or
I thought he did. The bushfire risk mitigation planning has been
completed by over 26 shires around Western Australia—45 shires are in
the process of undertaking that—which can now get access to up to $17 million
worth of mitigation funding to make their area safer. They can get access to
it. It is not $2 million; it is $17 million! On top of that, $35 million of mitigation
funding is made available for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Point of Order
Mr D.T.
REDMAN : The question was specifically related to prescribed burning.
The minister has not targeted the response to the question that has been asked.
The SPEAKER : I think he is
talking about prescribed burning.
Mr F.M. Logan : I am talking
about prescribed burning.
The SPEAKER : It is not a point
of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr F.M. LOGAN : If the member
is talking about prescribed burning as it relates to the Department of Parks
and Wildlife, he had better ask the correct minister.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : I did not ask
for your opinion.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : If the member
is talking about the use of fire for mitigation, which is exactly what we are
talking about—otherwise deemed as prescribed burning—can I inform
the member once again that our investment of over $50 million knocks the member's
$2 million into a cocked hat.
someone who claims to be the opposition spokesperson for emergency services, I am
surprised the member for Warren–Blackwood has not read more about this
and taken notice of all the things we have done over the last year in the area
of bushfire mitigation and the answers I have given to questions in this house.
The member has even been at some of the forums himself where we have announced
what we are doing.
Mr D.T. Redman : So why did
you cut funding?
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Let us not go
through this where I start answering and the member for Warren–Blackwood
immediately interjects on me. Let me answer the question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, if you
want to hear the answer, be quiet.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Let us do
that today instead of the member continuing to interject on me. I will answer
his question.
It was quite clear in the budget
last year how we would not only replace the royalties for regions funding that
his government had not committed to when he was in government, but also enhance
it. In total, we have $35 million—not $2 million—available for
the first time ever for mitigation on state land.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : The second
thing we did was enhance royalties for regions funding for local governments.
Remember, the member's government had not made provision for it.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : I do not know
why we go through this.
The SPEAKER : Member, you
have an opportunity for a supplementary, but if you keep interjecting, you will
not.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : The member
for Warren–Blackwood knows exactly how it is supposed to be funded, or
I thought he did. The bushfire risk mitigation planning has been
completed by over 26 shires around Western Australia—45 shires are in
the process of undertaking that—which can now get access to up to $17 million
worth of mitigation funding to make their area safer. They can get access to
it. It is not $2 million; it is $17 million! On top of that, $35 million of mitigation
funding is made available for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Point of Order
Mr D.T.
REDMAN : The question was specifically related to prescribed burning.
The minister has not targeted the response to the question that has been asked.
The SPEAKER : I think he is
talking about prescribed burning.
Mr F.M. Logan : I am talking
about prescribed burning.
The SPEAKER : It is not a point
of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr F.M. LOGAN : If the member
is talking about prescribed burning as it relates to the Department of Parks
and Wildlife, he had better ask the correct minister.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : I did not ask
for your opinion.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : If the member
is talking about the use of fire for mitigation, which is exactly what we are
talking about—otherwise deemed as prescribed burning—can I inform
the member once again that our investment of over $50 million knocks the member's
$2 million into a cocked hat.
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