❓ The Minister for Emergency Services details the McGowan Labor government's investment in bushfire mitigation, highlighting funding allocations to local governments and the establishment of the Bushfire Centre of Excellence. The response defends the government's record against criticism and cites positive feedback from local government representatives.
AnsweredQoN 530Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRE MITIGATION — FUNDING
530. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Emergency Services:
Can the minister update the house on
how the McGowan Labor government's record funding for bushfire
mitigation is supporting local governments across Western Australia and helping
to keep our community safe?
530. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Emergency Services:
Can the minister update the house on
how the McGowan Labor government's record funding for bushfire
mitigation is supporting local governments across Western Australia and helping
to keep our community safe?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley for
that fantastic question.
It gives me a great deal of pleasure
to follow on a little from the member for Mandurah in talking about local
government.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : I will come to
the member in two seconds, and his questions in estimates. I will repeat what I
actually said in estimates and hopefully that will clear it all up for the
member for Warren–Blackwood, because he is a confused man. He should
remember that it has been this government, and only this government, that has put so much money into keeping our regional
communities safe through bushfire mitigation. No other government in Western Australia has ever done that. The amount
of money that has been put in to keep our colleagues, friends and families in regional Western Australia safe from bushfire has been done by only
Labor. No other state government in Australia has poured that amount of money
into bushfire mitigation, and the member for Warren–Blackwood knows
that. As a regional member, instead of nitpicking, he should thank us on behalf
of his community. We have put $80 million into regional Western Australia to
keep the community safe, which includes the establishment of the Bushfire
Centre of Excellence. In terms of the mitigation itself, so far 940 activities —
Mr D.T. Redman : This sounds
like Jonesy from Dad's Army .
The SPEAKER : You are a very
poor imitation of the Leader of the House.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is coming
from Pike—you stupid boy!
So far, we have undertaken 940 fire
mitigation activities across 27 local governments in regional Western Australia
at a cost of $6.5 million. Over the 2019–20 period—the member
for Warren–Blackwood should listen to this, because this is an
explanation for him —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : The member for
Warren–Blackwood should just listen and it will be explained to him.
Over the 2019–20 period, we are pouring —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want
to hear some silence. Minister, through the Chair; otherwise, you will keep
getting interjections.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Over the 2019–20
period, we are putting $11.1 million into bushfire mitigation through the mitigation activity fund, from the emergency services
levy. The royalties for regions component of the mitigation activity
fund is for use on crown land located within, adjacent to, or otherwise
affecting a regional town site in WA. That funding will be $5.8 million over
the 2019–20 period. This is the very point that the member for Warren–Blackwood
raised in the estimates committee. I explained it to him, but for some reason
he just could not understand it. The money comes from royalties for regions
through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, and then part of it is
distributed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services through to local
governments. I explained that to the member for Warren–Blackwood, but
he just could not get it through his head. That is where the $5.8 million is
coming from.
On
top of that, we have put in place regional positions within local government to
assist with bushfire risk mitigation planning and officers to assist local
governments to apply those plans on the ground. I will outline the feedback
from local government. Brian Piesse, shire president of the Shire of
Donnybrook–Balingup, was reported as saying —
''This is what a State
Government–Local Government partnership is all about,'' �
''We are pleased to be a part
of the 17 Local Governments to receive funding.''
That was last year. The Shire of
Nannup president, Tony Dean, said the announcement of $476 500 for his shire
was fantastic news. Shire of Esperance councillor Basil Parker said that it was
a terrific initiative and a great step forward. He said —
''I � believe this is a great
step and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has come to the party
with this money.
''This kind of mitigation
funding is what will stop what happened in 2015 from happening again.''
That is how seriously local government
takes mitigation activity funding. Unfortunately, only one party and one person
is not taking this seriously, and that is the Nationals WA and the member for
Warren–Blackwood.
that fantastic question.
It gives me a great deal of pleasure
to follow on a little from the member for Mandurah in talking about local
government.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : I will come to
the member in two seconds, and his questions in estimates. I will repeat what I
actually said in estimates and hopefully that will clear it all up for the
member for Warren–Blackwood, because he is a confused man. He should
remember that it has been this government, and only this government, that has put so much money into keeping our regional
communities safe through bushfire mitigation. No other government in Western Australia has ever done that. The amount
of money that has been put in to keep our colleagues, friends and families in regional Western Australia safe from bushfire has been done by only
Labor. No other state government in Australia has poured that amount of money
into bushfire mitigation, and the member for Warren–Blackwood knows
that. As a regional member, instead of nitpicking, he should thank us on behalf
of his community. We have put $80 million into regional Western Australia to
keep the community safe, which includes the establishment of the Bushfire
Centre of Excellence. In terms of the mitigation itself, so far 940 activities —
Mr D.T. Redman : This sounds
like Jonesy from Dad's Army .
The SPEAKER : You are a very
poor imitation of the Leader of the House.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is coming
from Pike—you stupid boy!
So far, we have undertaken 940 fire
mitigation activities across 27 local governments in regional Western Australia
at a cost of $6.5 million. Over the 2019–20 period—the member
for Warren–Blackwood should listen to this, because this is an
explanation for him —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : The member for
Warren–Blackwood should just listen and it will be explained to him.
Over the 2019–20 period, we are pouring —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want
to hear some silence. Minister, through the Chair; otherwise, you will keep
getting interjections.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Over the 2019–20
period, we are putting $11.1 million into bushfire mitigation through the mitigation activity fund, from the emergency services
levy. The royalties for regions component of the mitigation activity
fund is for use on crown land located within, adjacent to, or otherwise
affecting a regional town site in WA. That funding will be $5.8 million over
the 2019–20 period. This is the very point that the member for Warren–Blackwood
raised in the estimates committee. I explained it to him, but for some reason
he just could not understand it. The money comes from royalties for regions
through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, and then part of it is
distributed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services through to local
governments. I explained that to the member for Warren–Blackwood, but
he just could not get it through his head. That is where the $5.8 million is
coming from.
On
top of that, we have put in place regional positions within local government to
assist with bushfire risk mitigation planning and officers to assist local
governments to apply those plans on the ground. I will outline the feedback
from local government. Brian Piesse, shire president of the Shire of
Donnybrook–Balingup, was reported as saying —
''This is what a State
Government–Local Government partnership is all about,'' �
''We are pleased to be a part
of the 17 Local Governments to receive funding.''
That was last year. The Shire of
Nannup president, Tony Dean, said the announcement of $476 500 for his shire
was fantastic news. Shire of Esperance councillor Basil Parker said that it was
a terrific initiative and a great step forward. He said —
''I � believe this is a great
step and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has come to the party
with this money.
''This kind of mitigation
funding is what will stop what happened in 2015 from happening again.''
That is how seriously local government
takes mitigation activity funding. Unfortunately, only one party and one person
is not taking this seriously, and that is the Nationals WA and the member for
Warren–Blackwood.
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