❓ The Minister for Emergency Services outlines the government's bushfire preparedness measures, including legislative amendments focused on fire control, property definition, and emergency evacuation powers, while contrasting their actions with the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 722Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRE SEASON — PREPARATIONS
Will the minister advise the house what he is doing to ensure that Western Australia is fully prepared for the upcoming bushfire season? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
Will the minister advise the house what he is doing to ensure that Western Australia is fully prepared for the upcoming bushfire season? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
It is me again! I thought members opposite would be pleased! I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: It is me again! I thought members opposite would be pleased! I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
It is me again! I thought members opposite would be pleased! I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: It is me again! I thought members opposite would be pleased! I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
It is me again! I thought members opposite would be pleased! I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
I know we have been joking, but this is a very, very serious issue, and I wish to let the house know what this government has done about it since it came into office and I became the Minister for Emergency Services. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I take very seriously the role I have to play to try to ensure that our firefighters are ready, and to try to reduce any threats to life and property. It is a very serious issue. Since this government came into office, the tragic events occurred in Victoria during the last bushfire season. I asked the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia to organise a bushfire summit which could be attended by any body or organisation that had an interest or some expertise or knowledge of how to deal with serious bushfires. We did not want to see what happened in Victoria happen in Western Australia. I thank the cabinet ministers and other members for very much supporting the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009 that was introduced into Parliament today. The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
The amendments in that bill include the introduction of total fire bans, new arrangements for the control of major fires, changes to the definition of the word “property” to include crown land and bush, and a revised fire danger reading. Fires know no boundaries, and we have to take care of that. We have some very, very good and very efficient firefighting organisations in Western Australia, but we need to pool them together to ensure that when a really serious fire threatens lives and property, one organisation will assume control to try to coordinate all those agencies and firefighters, which will be FESA. I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
I want to clarify some provisions of the bill on which some members opposite and members of the media have speculated relating to mandatory evacuation of properties during a major fire. I assure the house that it is not our government’s intention to force anybody kicking and screaming out of their homes. We will not do that. We are giving FESA the power to seek police help as a matter of last resort in a very dire situation. That part of the bill will come into effect if there are vulnerable people in an area where there is a raging bushfire and lives are in danger. Predominantly it would relate to children, disabled and sick people, and also the elderly. Very many people say that they want to stay and fight a fire, but the lives and wellbeing of children in particular have to be taken seriously, and we would only use that part of the legislation in very, very exceptional circumstances. We are not trying to drag people out of their homes kicking and screaming. If they want to stay, that will be their decision, but this has to be in the bill so that we can protect our children and our vulnerable people. I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
I hope I will have the support from members opposite when I declare that bill an urgent bill, because we need to get it through this and the other house well before the bushfire season starts. It is most important that we do that. I have a feeling that I will get that support. The member for Girrawheen, as the shadow spokesperson, will almost certainly support it. Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I wrote to you about it a month ago and suggested you get on with it, so I suggest that you might get my support. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member tempts me now! The report from the standing committee of this house was tabled in 2006 during the term of the former government. The former government did nothing in two years and it then went to an election. It did nothing in this area. When we came into government and I took the portfolio of emergency services I did something, I have done something and I am doing something. I will continue to do whatever I can to try to save lives and property in WA. The former government did nothing for two years; it is about time it supported this legislation and I hope members opposite will, because if they do not, they will have to hang their heads in shame.
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