❓ Question regarding additional financial assistance for victims of the Roleystone-Kelmscott bushfire. The Premier responds, highlighting differences in government responsibility compared to other fires and outlining existing assistance.
AnsweredQoN 725Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROLEYSTONE–KELMSCOTT
BUSHFIRE — FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
725. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I refer to an article in today's Examiner referring to Perth hills bushfire victims, which quotes the
member for Serpentine–Jarrahdale —
We have looked at every option on
the table, we went to the Premier and he is keen to help the people and we are
in the last stages of working out a package for them.
In light of the member for Serpentine–Jarrahdale's
commitment —
A member: Darling Range.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I
am sorry; member for Darling Range.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
know the interjections were made to help you with identifying the member. I
think it was only necessary to say it once. I believe the member for Girrawheen
has understood that the member for Darling Range is the member for Darling
Range.
Several members interjected.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I
will repeat what he said, if you like. My question is —
(1) In light
of the member for Darling Range's commitment, what additional
assistance will be provided to hills victims?
(2) When will it be finalised?
(3) Why has it
taken almost two years to give these people an answer?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, members!
BUSHFIRE — FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
725. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I refer to an article in today's Examiner referring to Perth hills bushfire victims, which quotes the
member for Serpentine–Jarrahdale —
We have looked at every option on
the table, we went to the Premier and he is keen to help the people and we are
in the last stages of working out a package for them.
In light of the member for Serpentine–Jarrahdale's
commitment —
A member: Darling Range.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I
am sorry; member for Darling Range.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
know the interjections were made to help you with identifying the member. I
think it was only necessary to say it once. I believe the member for Girrawheen
has understood that the member for Darling Range is the member for Darling
Range.
Several members interjected.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I
will repeat what he said, if you like. My question is —
(1) In light
of the member for Darling Range's commitment, what additional
assistance will be provided to hills victims?
(2) When will it be finalised?
(3) Why has it
taken almost two years to give these people an answer?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, members!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) This morning the government announced that —
Ms M.M. Quirk : I
didn't ask about Margaret River.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think I got four words out then—four. This morning —
Ms M.M. Quirk : You
don't give out the word ''sorry'' though.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question; if you want an answer, I
suggest you listen for a while longer.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This morning the government announced that, through RiskCover, it would meet
all reasonable claims arising out of the Margaret River fires. Previously, the
government made a commitment of a fund of up to $5 million, and something like
88 claims have been settled. There are still a number outstanding. That is a
correct decision; it was based on both legal advice and discussion with
insurers, and there is a proper way to proceed. In doing so, right from the
outset, the government has recognised that the cause of the Margaret River fire
was a prescribed burn by the Department of Environment and Conservation getting
out of control. The government accepts responsibility. There were very extreme
weather conditions; nevertheless it was a prescribed burn. It is similar to the
Toodyay fires 18 months earlier. Again, while the cause was a little
inconclusive, on the basis of probabilities, the fire started from Western
Power infrastructure. Again, at that time, the government accepted a level of
responsibility and provided a $5 million compensation package, which basically
met the needs of the people of Toodyay.
With respect to the hills fire, which was a very severe fire
with 74 homes destroyed, indeed, there has been some obvious discussion about
this. I again want to restate two things: first, that fire started from a
person using an angle grinder. Again, there were very high winds; it was a very
hot day with severe conditions. That fire ignited and spread at an enormous
pace through those hills areas. There has never been any suggestion that the
government was at fault in any respect. Clearly, there was a case of
responsibility at Margaret River and, arguably, one at Toodyay. That was not
the case with the hills fire.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Armadale, if you wish to get to your feet and ask a question, an
opportunity is always available in this place as long as you are a member. At
this point, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Member for
Pilbara, I do not need to hear from you either.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is self-evident. As tragic as the loss of homes in the
hills area was, there is no suspicion or suggestion of any government
responsibility or liability.
Mr
T.G. Stephens : Who turned off the water supply?
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie!
Mr
J.R. Quigley : Yes, Mr Speaker.
The
SPEAKER : I am glad you know that I am here and that I am standing on my
feet. I formally call you to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The cause of the hills fire was not intended, but it was not an issue of
responsibility of government. Nevertheless, the government is—as are, I
think, all people in Western Australia—extremely sympathetic to those
who lost their homes and possessions. Various forms of funding have been made
available. It is a fact that those who lost their homes in the hills fire have
received, I think, on average a little above $50 000 in assistance from various
sources, including government. That is quite significant. The members for
Darling Range and Armadale visited my office about three months ago with some
people who had lost their homes. I was particularly sympathetic, as we all
were, to an elderly couple who had lost the dream home of a lifetime. It is not
an issue of liability in this case. The fire started. There are differences
between people who were fully insured, underinsured and uninsured. It is not a
responsibility of government to solve every problem of the community. Indeed,
those who did insure their homes will look askance if they see assistance given
to those who were uninsured.
Dr A.D. Buti : They
were insured.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale has never actually asked me a
question on this. Have you ever asked a question?
Dr
A.D. Buti : Yes, in debate.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale has never stood in this chamber and
actually asked a question.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : I can remember,
member for Armadale. I formally call you to order for the third time today.
Members, I recognise that there is some sensitivity around this issue. I would
like to give the Premier an opportunity to answer the rest of the question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The householders who lost their homes in Armadale —
Dr
A.D. Buti : You said it was a hardship payment.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I remind the member for Armadale that he has never asked a
question about this in Parliament.
Dr
A.D. Buti : I have asked you about three or four time in debate—what
are you on about?
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, if you want me to call you for the fourth
time today, I will happily oblige. I ask you at this point to remain silent.
You obviously have some interest in the matter being discussed. I think you
should take this opportunity to listen to the issue being discussed and not
continue to interject.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Having just dealt with the liability issue, I think the area that is affecting
people, particularly some of the older residents, is that even if they were
fully insured, they cannot rebuild their home. People who may have been fully
insured are finding that, with changes to building regulations, sewage
requirements and the like, they cannot re-establish their home as it might have
been. A person may have been a resident in the area for 30 years and be fully
insured, but the building regulations and requirements are very different
today. People are having issues with having to build retaining walls when they
were not there before. That is the issue the government is looking at to
determine whether we can provide some assistance in dealing with those issues.
That is something that they could not have insured for. I make it very clear
that the assistance will be limited. It will not a Margaret River or Toodyay
scenario, but —
Dr
A.D. Buti : You said it had nothing to do with liability—you said it
was hardship.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Armadale has never asked a question.
Dr A.D. Buti : And
you never replied to my letter to you of a month ago!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I provided advice to you a moment ago. I did
not provide that advice lightly. Indeed, I said it with great intent. If you
have other issues that relate to this particular question, I suggest you take
them up with the Premier outside this place. Members in this place know that I
do not want to remove them from the chamber. I do not want to remove you from
this place, member for Armadale. If I hear further interruption, I will
consider what your options might be. At this point, I ask you to remain silent.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I conclude that it is that issue that the government is
looking at assisting them with. I do not want to raise any expectation of a
large amount of money —
Dr A.D. Buti : Did
you respond quickly?
Mr M. McGowan :
What's the package? You promised a package? Yes, you did.
The
SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is what I am working on with the member for Darling Range and the Armadale
City Council. We will try to help these people overcome the additional
requirements that have evolved in the past 30 years.
Dr A.D. Buti : They
were insured. Don't misrepresent the situation—they were
insured.
Suspension of
Member
The SPEAKER : Member for
Armadale, I am usually reasonably tolerant—but I think you know that. I
formally call you to order for the fourth time today and ask you to leave this
place for the remainder of this day's sitting.
[The member for Armadale left the chamber.]
Mr T.G. Stephens :
Have you ever answered his letter, Premier?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Pilbara, I formally call you to order for the second time today.
ROLEYSTONE–KELMSCOTT
BUSHFIRE — FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
726. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I ask a supplementary question.
Given that the Premier bases his indication of payment or otherwise on
liability, can he explain when the Toodyay residents will be fully compensated
for Western Power's negligence in 2009?
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied:
The Toodyay assistance package has
been completed.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I
didn't ask about Margaret River.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think I got four words out then—four. This morning —
Ms M.M. Quirk : You
don't give out the word ''sorry'' though.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question; if you want an answer, I
suggest you listen for a while longer.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This morning the government announced that, through RiskCover, it would meet
all reasonable claims arising out of the Margaret River fires. Previously, the
government made a commitment of a fund of up to $5 million, and something like
88 claims have been settled. There are still a number outstanding. That is a
correct decision; it was based on both legal advice and discussion with
insurers, and there is a proper way to proceed. In doing so, right from the
outset, the government has recognised that the cause of the Margaret River fire
was a prescribed burn by the Department of Environment and Conservation getting
out of control. The government accepts responsibility. There were very extreme
weather conditions; nevertheless it was a prescribed burn. It is similar to the
Toodyay fires 18 months earlier. Again, while the cause was a little
inconclusive, on the basis of probabilities, the fire started from Western
Power infrastructure. Again, at that time, the government accepted a level of
responsibility and provided a $5 million compensation package, which basically
met the needs of the people of Toodyay.
With respect to the hills fire, which was a very severe fire
with 74 homes destroyed, indeed, there has been some obvious discussion about
this. I again want to restate two things: first, that fire started from a
person using an angle grinder. Again, there were very high winds; it was a very
hot day with severe conditions. That fire ignited and spread at an enormous
pace through those hills areas. There has never been any suggestion that the
government was at fault in any respect. Clearly, there was a case of
responsibility at Margaret River and, arguably, one at Toodyay. That was not
the case with the hills fire.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Armadale, if you wish to get to your feet and ask a question, an
opportunity is always available in this place as long as you are a member. At
this point, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Member for
Pilbara, I do not need to hear from you either.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is self-evident. As tragic as the loss of homes in the
hills area was, there is no suspicion or suggestion of any government
responsibility or liability.
Mr
T.G. Stephens : Who turned off the water supply?
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie!
Mr
J.R. Quigley : Yes, Mr Speaker.
The
SPEAKER : I am glad you know that I am here and that I am standing on my
feet. I formally call you to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The cause of the hills fire was not intended, but it was not an issue of
responsibility of government. Nevertheless, the government is—as are, I
think, all people in Western Australia—extremely sympathetic to those
who lost their homes and possessions. Various forms of funding have been made
available. It is a fact that those who lost their homes in the hills fire have
received, I think, on average a little above $50 000 in assistance from various
sources, including government. That is quite significant. The members for
Darling Range and Armadale visited my office about three months ago with some
people who had lost their homes. I was particularly sympathetic, as we all
were, to an elderly couple who had lost the dream home of a lifetime. It is not
an issue of liability in this case. The fire started. There are differences
between people who were fully insured, underinsured and uninsured. It is not a
responsibility of government to solve every problem of the community. Indeed,
those who did insure their homes will look askance if they see assistance given
to those who were uninsured.
Dr A.D. Buti : They
were insured.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale has never actually asked me a
question on this. Have you ever asked a question?
Dr
A.D. Buti : Yes, in debate.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale has never stood in this chamber and
actually asked a question.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : I can remember,
member for Armadale. I formally call you to order for the third time today.
Members, I recognise that there is some sensitivity around this issue. I would
like to give the Premier an opportunity to answer the rest of the question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The householders who lost their homes in Armadale —
Dr
A.D. Buti : You said it was a hardship payment.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I remind the member for Armadale that he has never asked a
question about this in Parliament.
Dr
A.D. Buti : I have asked you about three or four time in debate—what
are you on about?
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, if you want me to call you for the fourth
time today, I will happily oblige. I ask you at this point to remain silent.
You obviously have some interest in the matter being discussed. I think you
should take this opportunity to listen to the issue being discussed and not
continue to interject.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Having just dealt with the liability issue, I think the area that is affecting
people, particularly some of the older residents, is that even if they were
fully insured, they cannot rebuild their home. People who may have been fully
insured are finding that, with changes to building regulations, sewage
requirements and the like, they cannot re-establish their home as it might have
been. A person may have been a resident in the area for 30 years and be fully
insured, but the building regulations and requirements are very different
today. People are having issues with having to build retaining walls when they
were not there before. That is the issue the government is looking at to
determine whether we can provide some assistance in dealing with those issues.
That is something that they could not have insured for. I make it very clear
that the assistance will be limited. It will not a Margaret River or Toodyay
scenario, but —
Dr
A.D. Buti : You said it had nothing to do with liability—you said it
was hardship.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Armadale has never asked a question.
Dr A.D. Buti : And
you never replied to my letter to you of a month ago!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I provided advice to you a moment ago. I did
not provide that advice lightly. Indeed, I said it with great intent. If you
have other issues that relate to this particular question, I suggest you take
them up with the Premier outside this place. Members in this place know that I
do not want to remove them from the chamber. I do not want to remove you from
this place, member for Armadale. If I hear further interruption, I will
consider what your options might be. At this point, I ask you to remain silent.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I conclude that it is that issue that the government is
looking at assisting them with. I do not want to raise any expectation of a
large amount of money —
Dr A.D. Buti : Did
you respond quickly?
Mr M. McGowan :
What's the package? You promised a package? Yes, you did.
The
SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is what I am working on with the member for Darling Range and the Armadale
City Council. We will try to help these people overcome the additional
requirements that have evolved in the past 30 years.
Dr A.D. Buti : They
were insured. Don't misrepresent the situation—they were
insured.
Suspension of
Member
The SPEAKER : Member for
Armadale, I am usually reasonably tolerant—but I think you know that. I
formally call you to order for the fourth time today and ask you to leave this
place for the remainder of this day's sitting.
[The member for Armadale left the chamber.]
Mr T.G. Stephens :
Have you ever answered his letter, Premier?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Pilbara, I formally call you to order for the second time today.
ROLEYSTONE–KELMSCOTT
BUSHFIRE — FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
726. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I ask a supplementary question.
Given that the Premier bases his indication of payment or otherwise on
liability, can he explain when the Toodyay residents will be fully compensated
for Western Power's negligence in 2009?
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied:
The Toodyay assistance package has
been completed.
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