❓ The Minister for Emergency Services outlines the WA government's bushfire preparedness measures, including the StateAlert system, legislative changes, a bushfire forum, and inter-agency cooperation, in response to concerns about a potentially severe bushfire season due to increased rainfall and subsequent grass growth.
AnsweredQoN 838Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRE PREPAREDNESS
As the minister is aware, during this winter there has been much heavier rainfall across Western Australia, especially in the south west. Will the minister outline to the house what has been done for the upcoming bushfire season and detail what the state government has done to prepare for this? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
As the minister is aware, during this winter there has been much heavier rainfall across Western Australia, especially in the south west. Will the minister outline to the house what has been done for the upcoming bushfire season and detail what the state government has done to prepare for this? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
Before I answer the question, on behalf of the member for Vasse I acknowledge the students from Cornerstone Christian College and Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College in the gallery today. There are a lot of them! I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: Before I answer the question, on behalf of the member for Vasse I acknowledge the students from Cornerstone Christian College and Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College in the gallery today. There are a lot of them! I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Before I answer the question, on behalf of the member for Vasse I acknowledge the students from Cornerstone Christian College and Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College in the gallery today. There are a lot of them! I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: Before I answer the question, on behalf of the member for Vasse I acknowledge the students from Cornerstone Christian College and Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College in the gallery today. There are a lot of them! I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Before I answer the question, on behalf of the member for Vasse I acknowledge the students from Cornerstone Christian College and Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College in the gallery today. There are a lot of them! I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. It is a very serious question, and I need to give a very serious answer. In the wake of the Victorian bushfire tragedy, there is no doubt that this issue has been front and centre in not only my mind but also the collective thinking of the government. I have taken extensive measures to prepare our state, including the introduction of the StateAlert early warning system, making Western Australia the first jurisdiction in Australia to have an early warning system in operation. Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr M.P. Murray : That’s no good if you haven’t got a phone tower! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We will look after the member for Collie-Preston and his area; I promise him. We have fantastic volunteers down there who will look after his residence. We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
We will have an effective system that we will use as an adjunct to our normal warning and community information procedures. This was, in fact, one of the key preliminary recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The government has introduced a legislative package, which is currently before Parliament, which addresses key issues and recommendations on the control of major fires. These amendments to the Bush Fires Act 1954 will ensure that we have much better coordination and communication and that resources are maximised in a crisis. This package will also ensure that we are brought into line with the rest of Australia by having the capacity to declare total fire bans. Such a declaration will not only limit the outbreak of fires, but also help business to better manage by applying for exemptions that may be granted under certain circumstances. The government will also implement a revision of the national fire danger rating system and clarify the legal definition of the word “property”, closing loopholes that previously allowed arsonists, potentially, to escape prosecution. I have also instigated a bushfire forum and the Western Australian Bush Fire Summit, the first in Australia. That was convened just two months ago at my request and brought together the state’s key players to discuss fire management issues in readiness for the season. We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
We have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology that we are going to face probably the worst bushfire season of the past decade. We have taken note of that and we have made sure that our agencies work cooperatively in the way that they should, and I feel quite confident that with them working cooperatively we are in the best position to fight any major bushfires that we do have, particularly in Bunbury and the south west region, which will be very prone to bushfires this coming season. The reason for the problem is that we have had more rain during the winter season, which has made the grass grow, and of course with the advent of the summer sun and heat, the grass will dry out. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just repeating yourself now! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : It is a good message to get out, member, because it is a very important message. Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If the Leader of the Opposition will tell his members to stop interjecting, we will get through more questions. The member for Midland cannot help herself! We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
We are facing a very dangerous situation in a dangerous time. The government is taking it very seriously and will do everything in its power to try to save lives and property, not only in Bunbury and the south west, but also all over the state.
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