❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding a bushfire in Margaret River, specifically questioning the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) potential negligence in conducting prescribed burns and their awareness of weather forecasts. The Minister avoids direct confirmation, pending investigation.
AnsweredQoN 830Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARGARET RIVER BUSHFIRES — PRESCRIBED BURNS
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the presence of the students from Kyilla Primary School in North Perth, on behalf of the member for Perth. I refer to the bushfire currently out of control in Margaret River and to the minister’s department’s denial today that it was negligent in conducting prescribed burns that escaped control. (1) Is the minister confident that the Department of Environment and Conservation was not negligent in conducting the controlled burns? (2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the presence of the students from Kyilla Primary School in North Perth, on behalf of the member for Perth. I refer to the bushfire currently out of control in Margaret River and to the minister’s department’s denial today that it was negligent in conducting prescribed burns that escaped control. (1) Is the minister confident that the Department of Environment and Conservation was not negligent in conducting the controlled burns? (2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
I refer to the bushfire currently out of control in Margaret River and to the minister’s department’s denial today that it was negligent in conducting prescribed burns that escaped control. (1) Is the minister confident that the Department of Environment and Conservation was not negligent in conducting the controlled burns? (2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(1) Is the minister confident that the Department of Environment and Conservation was not negligent in conducting the controlled burns? (2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
I refer to the bushfire currently out of control in Margaret River and to the minister’s department’s denial today that it was negligent in conducting prescribed burns that escaped control. (1) Is the minister confident that the Department of Environment and Conservation was not negligent in conducting the controlled burns? (2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(1) Is the minister confident that the Department of Environment and Conservation was not negligent in conducting the controlled burns? (2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(2) Can the minister confirm, as he said earlier in the house today, that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? (3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(3) Can the minister confirm that on Monday, 21 November, when the prescribed burn was lit, the weather forecast for that week included predicted temperatures for later in the week of 33, 36 and 36 degrees? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
(1)–(3) I am confident that the resources and the actions that the Department of Environment and Conservation are taking at the moment in putting out the fire are adequate and that they are doing an excellent job. I am confident that what they are doing is following procedures. In terms of whether I am confident that they are negligent, we will have to look at that down the track in a full investigation. The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
The second question was about 21 November. Can — Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the minister confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River? Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr W.R. MARMION : I cannot categorically confirm that, because that is what will be investigated. But the most likely probability at the moment is that that is what probably caused the fire. Can I confirm the weather forecast? Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr E.S. Ripper : On the day that the fire was lit — Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
Mr W.R. MARMION : It is in the newspaper. Everyone knows what the forecasts are. DEC knows what the weather forecasts are, and it would have known what the weather forecasts were when it made the decision to do the continuation of the controlled burn.
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