❓ Opposition asks about the Department of Parks and Wildlife's burn-off targets, particularly regarding areas posing a risk to life and property. The Minister acknowledges past shortcomings but focuses on current upgrades and future progress, without providing specific numbers.
AnsweredQoN 643Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE — BURN-OFF TARGETS
643. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the
Minister for Environment:
I begin by acknowledging the people of New South Wales and
the dreadful fires that are challenging the people and communities there.
I refer to the government's failure to meet burn-off
targets.
(1) How far behind is the Department of Parks and Wildlife
currently with its essential burn-off targets?
(2) What
percentage of burn-offs specifically target areas that, if left unburnt, would
pose a significant risk to human life and property?
OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE — BURN-OFF TARGETS
643. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the
Minister for Environment:
I begin by acknowledging the people of New South Wales and
the dreadful fires that are challenging the people and communities there.
I refer to the government's failure to meet burn-off
targets.
(1) How far behind is the Department of Parks and Wildlife
currently with its essential burn-off targets?
(2) What
percentage of burn-offs specifically target areas that, if left unburnt, would
pose a significant risk to human life and property?
AnswerView source ↗
Speaking of New South Wales, I should have mentioned earlier
that the government has contributed $250 000 to that appeal.
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for Gosnells for the question. Firstly, he refers to the
burning targets of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. I thank him for the
opportunity to address that issue, because the ones he refers to actually
relate to last year's burning targets, not the season that we are
currently in. It is a very good opportunity to point that out.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Could you answer the question?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
have been very up-front about that. The government has readily acknowledged
that although there was a transition to rolling out the WorkSafe improvement
notices and the Keelty recommendations, there was a drop-off in the previous
season's prescribed burning target; however, we are only just now
ramping up this current season's prescribed burning program, and I look
forward to updating the house about our progress in that space.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
So you cannot give me a number for this year so far.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Following on from recent Liberal–National government initiatives, we
have contributed an extra $32.9 million towards prescribed burning. This is
something that the state government supports strongly as it recognises the
importance of the prescribed burning program. This $32.9 million includes an
extra 77 dedicated fire management officers, taking our full staff complement
to about 800 fire staff operating in that space. Those new processes are now in
place and, as I have already answered, equipment upgrades are well underway.
Mr M. McGowan :
That does not answer the question.
Mr A.P. JACOB : It
does answer the question. By the end of November this year, the south west
fleet will be substantially upgraded.
Mr M. McGowan : No,
it does not.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire : I asked the minister about burning targets.
Mr A.P. JACOB : The
question was specifically about our prescribed burning targets and I am
directly addressing that. Unfortunately for the member opposite, he was asking
about data from 2012.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
No, minister; I want to know for 2013.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : We have acknowledged that those burning targets fell well
short, we have upgraded the fleet in preparation for this season and we are
upgrading the final few trucks at a rate of about four per week, which should
be completed by the end of November. The prescribed burning season is well
underway, with 147 counted burns and, indeed, people are out there burning
today.
that the government has contributed $250 000 to that appeal.
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for Gosnells for the question. Firstly, he refers to the
burning targets of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. I thank him for the
opportunity to address that issue, because the ones he refers to actually
relate to last year's burning targets, not the season that we are
currently in. It is a very good opportunity to point that out.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Could you answer the question?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
have been very up-front about that. The government has readily acknowledged
that although there was a transition to rolling out the WorkSafe improvement
notices and the Keelty recommendations, there was a drop-off in the previous
season's prescribed burning target; however, we are only just now
ramping up this current season's prescribed burning program, and I look
forward to updating the house about our progress in that space.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
So you cannot give me a number for this year so far.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Following on from recent Liberal–National government initiatives, we
have contributed an extra $32.9 million towards prescribed burning. This is
something that the state government supports strongly as it recognises the
importance of the prescribed burning program. This $32.9 million includes an
extra 77 dedicated fire management officers, taking our full staff complement
to about 800 fire staff operating in that space. Those new processes are now in
place and, as I have already answered, equipment upgrades are well underway.
Mr M. McGowan :
That does not answer the question.
Mr A.P. JACOB : It
does answer the question. By the end of November this year, the south west
fleet will be substantially upgraded.
Mr M. McGowan : No,
it does not.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire : I asked the minister about burning targets.
Mr A.P. JACOB : The
question was specifically about our prescribed burning targets and I am
directly addressing that. Unfortunately for the member opposite, he was asking
about data from 2012.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
No, minister; I want to know for 2013.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : We have acknowledged that those burning targets fell well
short, we have upgraded the fleet in preparation for this season and we are
upgrading the final few trucks at a rate of about four per week, which should
be completed by the end of November. The prescribed burning season is well
underway, with 147 counted burns and, indeed, people are out there burning
today.
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