❓ Mr Rundle questions the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation about the lack of transparency regarding the investigation into the West Arthur-Wagin bushfire and the delay in providing answers to affected landholders. The Minister acknowledges the devastation and explains the legal constraints on publishing investigation details, deferring to the Minister for Commerce.
AnsweredQoN 669Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Bushfire—West Arthur–Wagin—Investigation
669. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I firstly acknowledge that this week marks the 10-year
anniversary of the devastating Esperance bushfire and acknowledge the four
souls who were lost in that disaster.
It has almost been a
year since the devastating January 2025 bushfire that burnt through the Shires
of West Arthur and Wagin, destroying 7,000 hectares of farmland, sheds,
livestock, equipment and three homes. Despite Western Power and the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services being on site immediately after the fire, the
community has still not been told what caused it and the investigation agency, Building
and Energy, has now advised the shires that its report will not be made public.
(1) Why is the government refusing to provide
transparency around the cause of this fire, and why are affected landholders
still waiting nearly a year for answers?
(2) What steps will the minister take to ensure
that any causes, conclusions and recommendations arising from this
investigation are made public and used to prevent similar fires this season and
beyond?
669. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I firstly acknowledge that this week marks the 10-year
anniversary of the devastating Esperance bushfire and acknowledge the four
souls who were lost in that disaster.
It has almost been a
year since the devastating January 2025 bushfire that burnt through the Shires
of West Arthur and Wagin, destroying 7,000 hectares of farmland, sheds,
livestock, equipment and three homes. Despite Western Power and the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services being on site immediately after the fire, the
community has still not been told what caused it and the investigation agency, Building
and Energy, has now advised the shires that its report will not be made public.
(1) Why is the government refusing to provide
transparency around the cause of this fire, and why are affected landholders
still waiting nearly a year for answers?
(2) What steps will the minister take to ensure
that any causes, conclusions and recommendations arising from this
investigation are made public and used to prevent similar fires this season and
beyond?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Roe for
some notice of the question. I also acknowledge the 10-year anniversary since
the Esperance fire and the extraordinary devastation and loss that the
community experienced with that terrible event. I will say a few things about
the Esperance fire, and then I will try and address the member's question.
Since the Esperance fires almost
10 years ago, $9.5 million has been granted to local governments through the
Mitigation Activity Fund and grants programs for on-ground works across the
Great Southern region. A sum of $1.15 million of this was spent on the Shire of
Esperance. The state government also provided the Shire of Esperance with four
new light tankers in March 2022 in line with recommendations from the coronial
inquest. The emergency services exposure draft bill is currently being prepared
to consolidate and clarify existing arrangements also in line with the coronial
recommendations.
These questions do not fall in my
portfolio area but in that of the Minister for Commerce, but I have sought an
update from the minister and his office around the investigation. Of course, it
would be inappropriate for the energy agencies to investigate themselves, so an
independent investigation is being undertaken by the energy safety office under
the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. I also
acknowledge that the fire earlier this year was a devastating event for the
community. I am advised by the director of energy safety that there is an
ongoing investigation into whether an electrical discharge was the cause of the
fire. I further understand that officers from the Department of Local
Government, Industry Regulation and Safety met with the council of the Shire of
Wagin in September to clarify the scope and process of the investigation. My
understanding is that by law, the department cannot publish details of the
investigation, either now or at completion. That is a legal obligation. If a
prosecution is ultimately commenced, evidence will be presented to the court in
accordance with the usual rules and processes, and any civil remedies or actions
that affected property owners take can proceed in the absence of any
prosecution by the department.
some notice of the question. I also acknowledge the 10-year anniversary since
the Esperance fire and the extraordinary devastation and loss that the
community experienced with that terrible event. I will say a few things about
the Esperance fire, and then I will try and address the member's question.
Since the Esperance fires almost
10 years ago, $9.5 million has been granted to local governments through the
Mitigation Activity Fund and grants programs for on-ground works across the
Great Southern region. A sum of $1.15 million of this was spent on the Shire of
Esperance. The state government also provided the Shire of Esperance with four
new light tankers in March 2022 in line with recommendations from the coronial
inquest. The emergency services exposure draft bill is currently being prepared
to consolidate and clarify existing arrangements also in line with the coronial
recommendations.
These questions do not fall in my
portfolio area but in that of the Minister for Commerce, but I have sought an
update from the minister and his office around the investigation. Of course, it
would be inappropriate for the energy agencies to investigate themselves, so an
independent investigation is being undertaken by the energy safety office under
the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. I also
acknowledge that the fire earlier this year was a devastating event for the
community. I am advised by the director of energy safety that there is an
ongoing investigation into whether an electrical discharge was the cause of the
fire. I further understand that officers from the Department of Local
Government, Industry Regulation and Safety met with the council of the Shire of
Wagin in September to clarify the scope and process of the investigation. My
understanding is that by law, the department cannot publish details of the
investigation, either now or at completion. That is a legal obligation. If a
prosecution is ultimately commenced, evidence will be presented to the court in
accordance with the usual rules and processes, and any civil remedies or actions
that affected property owners take can proceed in the absence of any
prosecution by the department.
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