❓ Mr Rundle asks the Premier to instruct the Minister for Emergency Services to apply for federal assistance (tax breaks) for businesses impacted by the Stirling Range bushfires. The Premier outlines state government recovery efforts and suggests Mr Rundle direct his question to the relevant minister.
AnsweredQoN 29Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRES —
STIRLING RANGE NATIONAL PARK — TOURISM
29. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the Boxing Day fires at
Stirling Range National Park that tore through 40 000 hectares of bush,
including the Bluff Knoll trail, and the subsequent 80 per cent drop in
visitation that supports businesses and tourism in the area. Will the Premier
instruct the Minister for Emergency Services to complete paperwork to the
federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management so that
businesses impacted by a significant reduction in tourists can be given
temporary tax breaks?
STIRLING RANGE NATIONAL PARK — TOURISM
29. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the Boxing Day fires at
Stirling Range National Park that tore through 40 000 hectares of bush,
including the Bluff Knoll trail, and the subsequent 80 per cent drop in
visitation that supports businesses and tourism in the area. Will the Premier
instruct the Minister for Emergency Services to complete paperwork to the
federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management so that
businesses impacted by a significant reduction in tourists can be given
temporary tax breaks?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
I will make a few comments. Obviously, the fires in the Stirling Range were
significant and impacted a large area of that beautiful part of Western Australia.
A lot of firefighters, both career and volunteer, were involved in fighting
them and were supported by the State Emergency Services and the like. I thank
all people involved in dealing with it. It was clearly a significant fire
event.
Bluff Knoll itself is the highest
point in Western Australia, which I climbed last year. That took it out of me.
The Speaker tells me he used to run up it when he was younger.
The SPEAKER : It was a long
time ago!
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I said, it
is a beautiful area and an important tourist attraction in Western Australia.
We have been acting to reinstate the area for people to visit again and to
climb. Officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions have met with the Shire of Gnowangerup and local businesses and
have two crews working in the park area to reinstate the facilities. A third
crew from the Kimberley is coming to assist the
two existing crews. A lot of work has been done on repairing the roads in the
area. I am aware of correspondence that the member received from the
Minister for Environment that indicated that Stirling Range Drive and several
of the recreation sites and viewing areas have been reopened. Bluff Knoll Road
will be reopened shortly to allow visitors back into the area. We are looking
to reinstate the facilities as well as we can.
In regard to the member's
question about seeking federal support, the member might ask the minister that
question directly. As I understand it, it has to be a declared disaster area
before that support can be secured. If the member wants further details on
that, he should ask the Minister for Emergency Services.
I will make a few comments. Obviously, the fires in the Stirling Range were
significant and impacted a large area of that beautiful part of Western Australia.
A lot of firefighters, both career and volunteer, were involved in fighting
them and were supported by the State Emergency Services and the like. I thank
all people involved in dealing with it. It was clearly a significant fire
event.
Bluff Knoll itself is the highest
point in Western Australia, which I climbed last year. That took it out of me.
The Speaker tells me he used to run up it when he was younger.
The SPEAKER : It was a long
time ago!
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I said, it
is a beautiful area and an important tourist attraction in Western Australia.
We have been acting to reinstate the area for people to visit again and to
climb. Officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions have met with the Shire of Gnowangerup and local businesses and
have two crews working in the park area to reinstate the facilities. A third
crew from the Kimberley is coming to assist the
two existing crews. A lot of work has been done on repairing the roads in the
area. I am aware of correspondence that the member received from the
Minister for Environment that indicated that Stirling Range Drive and several
of the recreation sites and viewing areas have been reopened. Bluff Knoll Road
will be reopened shortly to allow visitors back into the area. We are looking
to reinstate the facilities as well as we can.
In regard to the member's
question about seeking federal support, the member might ask the minister that
question directly. As I understand it, it has to be a declared disaster area
before that support can be secured. If the member wants further details on
that, he should ask the Minister for Emergency Services.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.