Mr Rundle questions the Premier about funding a firefighting appliance in Stirling Range National Park, given high visitation and bushfire risk. The Premier deflects, stating appliance allocation is for fire experts, not ministers.

AnsweredQoN 30Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 February 2020
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

BUSHFIRES —
STIRLING RANGE NATIONAL PARK — TOURISM
30. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that visitation to Stirling Range reached more than 82 000 last year,
will the Premier ask the minister to fund and base a new heavy-duty
firefighting appliance in the national park to protect visitors, the
environment and the surrounding properties rather than wash his hands of it?

AnswerView source ↗

The allocation of appliances and
equipment is a matter for the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner and
local government. Various volunteer and career fire brigades are out there.
This is a volunteer area but I understand that they are operational matters for
experts in fire management. The member wants a minister to make these
decisions, but I do not think that is the way it should happen. With all due
respect, the minister has done a marvellous job. Yesterday, he was in Karratha,
Paraburdoo, Tom Price and Dampier to visit cyclone-impacted areas. However, I do
not think it is appropriate to ask ministers to make decisions on where fire
appliances should be based; that is a decision for the department, involving
the best experts. If that is the way the Nationals WA want to conduct
government in this state, it would be a very sad day.

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