❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Margaret River bushfires, specifically questioning the dates of prescribed burns undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation and whether burns were lit on 21 November. The Minister's answer is somewhat evasive and unclear, leading to further questioning.
AnsweredQoN 844Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARGARET RIVER BUSHFIRES — PRESCRIBED BURNS
Last Thursday morning, the minister told the Parliament, “The areas that were being burnt were started on 6 September” and “that the prescribed burn was completed—this is what I have been advised—on 21 November”. During question time last Thursday, when asked to confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River, the minister answered, “I cannot categorically confirm that”. Last Thursday afternoon in the other place, when asked about the prescribed burn, the minister representing the minister answered, “Additional measures were put in place … to secure the burn in the days preceding the escape on 23 November”. (1) On what date was prescribed burning undertaken that caused the Margaret River bushfires? (2) Can the minister confirm that the Department of Environment and Conservation was lighting burns on Monday, 21 November? Mr W.R. MARMION
Last Thursday morning, the minister told the Parliament, “The areas that were being burnt were started on 6 September” and “that the prescribed burn was completed—this is what I have been advised—on 21 November”. During question time last Thursday, when asked to confirm that the prescribed burn lit on 21 November caused the current fire situation in Margaret River, the minister answered, “I cannot categorically confirm that”. Last Thursday afternoon in the other place, when asked about the prescribed burn, the minister representing the minister answered, “Additional measures were put in place … to secure the burn in the days preceding the escape on 23 November”. (1) On what date was prescribed burning undertaken that caused the Margaret River bushfires? (2) Can the minister confirm that the Department of Environment and Conservation was lighting burns on Monday, 21 November? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
(1) On what date was prescribed burning undertaken that caused the Margaret River bushfires? (2) Can the minister confirm that the Department of Environment and Conservation was lighting burns on Monday, 21 November? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
(2) Can the minister confirm that the Department of Environment and Conservation was lighting burns on Monday, 21 November? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
(1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
(1) On what date was prescribed burning undertaken that caused the Margaret River bushfires? (2) Can the minister confirm that the Department of Environment and Conservation was lighting burns on Monday, 21 November? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
(2) Can the minister confirm that the Department of Environment and Conservation was lighting burns on Monday, 21 November? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
(1)–(2) The facts as have been reported to me by the Department of Environment and Conservation are that on 6 September 2011 the prescribed burn was started and the actual area was about 720 hectares. On 20 November, they put out some extra patches of land. So that was the Sunday, so there was actual burning — Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What does that mean, “they put out some extra patches”? Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION : This is actual information I have got—the facts from the park. There was some mopping up — Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Did they burn them or did they put them out? Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr T.R. Buswell : Do you want an answer or do you want to keep talking to yourself? Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
Mr W.R. MARMION : I will start again. There was a controlled burn that started on 6 September. It was too green to burn. I understand they did actual core burning on 15 November and 16 November. The burn was not completed, so there was 50 hectares of the 720 hectares that was not burnt. The patches that were not burnt were actually ignited again on 20 November—that failed—and again on Monday, 21 November.
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.