Victoria Deputy Premier Peter Ryan

Victoria Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan

Vic Coalition Committed To World-Class Emergency Management

Victor P Taffa

Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan outlined Victoria’s vision to introduce a world’s best practice emergency management framework at a multi-agency emergency management seminar in Melbourne today.

Speaking to more than 200 delegates at the 2011 Control Line seminar Mr. Ryan said recent extreme events had highlighted the need to revisit the emergency management framework that had served Victoria for nearly 30 years.

“Victoria’s resilience has been tested in recent years, with extreme natural disaster events like the 2009 bushfires and the historic and prolonged floods of 2010/11 proving too big for any one emergency services agency to manage alone.” Mr. Ryan said.

“In response to the Comrie Interim Flood Report and the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission the Coalition Government has launched a Green Paper Towards a more disaster resilient and safer Victoria.”

“This important initiative will obtain feedback from emergency management agencies, local government and the community on new and innovative ways we can improve the legislative, organisational and cultural basis of Victoria’s emergency system.”

Mr. Ryan said the Victorian Coalition Government was committed to delivering a modern, all hazards all-agencies emergency management framework to help protect Victorians.

“Forums such as Control Line provide an invaluable opportunity for emergency management personnel to share ideas and knowledge in a collegiate environment.” Mr. Ryan said.

“Control Line started in 2004 as a CFA Bayswater Fire Brigade pre-fire season incident management-training workshop and it has now grown to give all emergency agencies the chance to learn how to deliver better emergency management services to communities.”

“I would like to congratulate Control Line Director Craig Ferguson and his team on their efforts this year in organising this event and securing expert speakers and delegates from around Australia.”

“Events like this are cultivating a multi-agency approach to learning, educating and sharing knowledge across the sector that will provide valuable benefits in the short and long-term.” Mr. Ryan said.

Western Australia Minister for Environment Bill Marmion

Busy Holiday Season For DEC Fire Crews

Victor P Taffa

Fire Crews from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) have attended nearly 40 bushfires across the South-West and along the south coast over the Christmas and New Year Period.

Minister for Environment Bill Marmion said today that DEC staff throughout the State, including a 60-strong pre-formed incident management team, had worked at times around-the-clock on some of the fires to ensure communities in the South-West were kept safe.

“Crews have been dealing with extremely hot, dry and windy weather conditions.  Fortunately, through quick action, and the support of volunteer bushfire brigades, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and Local Government, they have managed to quickly control most of the bushfires and prevent any significant injury or loss of property.” Mr. Marmion said.

The Minister said he was very concerned that 19 of the 22 bushfires between December 25 and January 3 in DEC’s Swan Region – which extends between Guilderton and Waroona – were apparently the result of arson.

“Most of these fires were contained to less than a few hundred square metres because of DEC’s rapid response and support of local brigades.” the Minister said.

“It is very disturbing there is an element in the community that gets thrills out of stealing cars and then torching them in bushland.”

“These blazes potentially can turn into major destructive fires, especially in the pines.  People with information in respect to these fires are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Mr. Marmion said DEC’s Extensive Prescribed Burning Program had been a key factor in successfully preventing several bushfires from spreading to nearby homes or developing into major bushfires.

“Prescribed Burning reduces the amount of fuel available to burn and consequently reduces the potential size and intensity of bushfires. Prescribed burns also protect and enhance conservation values and ecological processes in WA’s forests, parks and reserves.” the Minister said.

The Minister said DEC also acknowledged the support it had received from the Forest Products Commission, WA Police, Water Corporation, Western Power, Salvation Army, State Emergency Service, Main Roads, Telstra and local contractors who assisted with the recent fires.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan

BRUMBY BREAKS ANOTHER BUSHFIRE PROMISE

Victor P Taffa

A new report shows Victoria Premier John Brumby can’t be trusted to implement key Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations after he fell short of his own modest fuel reduction burn targets, Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said today.

“The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Annual Report tabled in Parliament this week highlights the hollowness of John Brumby’s commitment to undertake additional fuel reduction burns in the aftermath of the tragic 2009 bushfires.” Mr. Ryan said.

“In a media conference on 14 February this year, John Brumby stated the 2009-10 fuel reduction burning program would ‘comfortably exceed the 150,000 [hectares] that was burnt in 08/09.”

“But the DSE Annual Report revealed the Brumby Government carried out fuel reduction burns on only 146,106 hectares of public land during 2009-10.” Mr. Ryan said.

“When the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition grilled John Brumby in Parliament this week on why he had broken yet another promise on bushfire preparation, he sought to blame others for his failure.”

“Yet even by John Brumby’s own admission there has been ample opportunity for his government to carry out life-saving controlled burns in the past year.”

“The DSE Annual Report shows the government actually burnt 8000 hectares less than the year before.” Mr. Ryan said.

“How can Victorians be confident John Brumby will implement the Royal Commission’s recommendation to triple fuel reduction burning to 385,000 hectares a year if he is failing his own benchmark now?”

“The Bushfires Royal Commission final report, which criticised John Brumby’s failure to reduce Victoria’s fuel loads ahead of Black Saturday, made it absolutely clear fuel reduction burning must be boosted to protect lives.”

“John Brumby repeatedly ignored expert advice recommending the tripling of prescribed burning and now wants six years to reach that target.” Mr. Ryan said.

Editor Victor P Taffa sent an email request to Victoria Premier John Brumby’s Media Release List at the same time as the request was made to be on the Western Australia Government Media Release List. Premier Brumby’s Office never sent a message declining the offer to receive Victoria Government Media Releases. Editor Victor P Taffa publishes Media Releases from the Victoria Liberal Party website and the author of the Media Release is acknowledged at all times.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan

NINE DAYS LEFT FOR BRUMBY TO ACT ON BUSHFIRES MONITOR

Victor P Taffa

Victoria Premier John Brumby has only Nine Parliamentary Sitting Days left before the State Election to take the necessary steps to appoint a Bushfires Monitor, Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said today.

“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition strongly supports the Bushfires Royal Commission’s recommendation that an independent monitor or the Auditor-General be appointed to assess progress with implementing the Commission’s recommendations and report back to the Parliament by 31 July 2012.” Mr. Ryan said.

“Although this reporting date is almost two years away, the bushfires monitor should be in place as soon as possible.” Mr. Ryan said.

“John Brumby failed last week to seize the First Possible Parliamentary Opportunity to introduce Legislation to appoint an independent bushfires monitor and now he has only nine sitting days left to act before the November State Election.”

Mr. Ryan said the Coalition had already stated it would support legislation to appoint a monitor, so John Brumby had no excuse for delaying legislation.

“It is in the interests of all Victorians for John Brumby to stop procrastinating and introduce these laws so an independent monitor can keep the government honest and help prevent another tragedy like Black Saturday.” Mr. Ryan said.

“In their recommendations, the Commissioners have reflected the Coalition’s view that years of warnings on bushfires were ignored and that the Brumby Government failed to fully implement a number of key recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission’s interim report.”

“John Brumby has already indicated that he supports the concept of an independent bushfires monitor so there should be no further delay in the progression of this important legislation.”

Mr. Ryan said the Bushfires Royal Commission underwent a thorough and exhaustive process in reaching its 67 recommendations.”

“The Coalition supports all of the recommendations and we urge John Brumby to follow our lead, accept the recommendations, and act.” Mr. Ryan said.

Victoria Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu

BRUMBY’S FIRE FAILURE EXPOSED

Victor P Taffa

• New analysis reveals failure to implement key recommendations of interim Bushfires Royal Commission report
• Many previous warnings ignored

Victoria Premier John Brumby has failed to implement a number of key recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission’s Interim Report, new analysis by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition has revealed.

Releasing a research report on recommendations from the interim Royal Commission report which have still not been implemented by John Brumby, Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu said John Brumby had ignored many previous warnings on bushfires and had not done enough to protect Victorians from bushfire risk.

Mr. Baillieu said it had been a year since the release of the Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report and key recommendations had still not been implemented by John Brumby.

“In November last year John Brumby claimed that ‘government departments and agencies are working quickly to implement recommendations of the Royal Commission’s interim report’ but his claims are not supported by the evidence.” Mr. Baillieu said.

“Victorians already know that the Brumby Government ignored 25 key recommendations before the February 2009 bushfires which, if they had been adopted, would have ensured Victorians were better prepared and protected, and now the same alarming pattern is evident with these recommendations.

“There is no point in having lengthy and expensive inquiries, reports and Royal Commissions if John Brumby continues to ignore and fails to implement their recommendations.”

“John Brumby cannot be trusted to keep Victorians safe from fire when he has not done the work to ensure these key recommendations are implemented.” Mr. Baillieu said.

Among the key recommendations which John Brumby has failed to implement are:

• Recommendation 4.8 – investigation into the technical feasibility of the second phase of a national telephony-based warning system (this investigation being undertaken by the Brumby Government is currently held up);

• Recommendation 6.4 – review by councils of their Municipal Emergency Management Plans to ensure there is appropriate provision for relocation during bushfires (councils are struggling to implement this recommendation because of inadequate financial assistance from the Brumby Government);

• Recommendation 8.4 – replacement of the 2005 Fire Refuges in Victoria: Policy and Practice policy after its review by the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner (the Brumby Government has only released a discussion paper in July 2010, and with the policy held up there have been no new refuges announced);

• Recommendation 8.6 – the State to have commenced progressively identifying, establishing and advertising designated community refuges and Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSPs) giving priority to areas where bushfire risk is identified as high (NSPs not fully implemented; Victoria has 101 NSPs, while in New South Wales more than 700 have been identified using similar guidelines; as at 28 July 2010, the CFA website showed that 23 of the 52 Hot Spot towns did not have an NSP, with none in the extreme bushfire risk area of the Colac-Otway Shire);

• Recommendation 8.6 – establishment of community refuges (there have been no new community refuges identified or established);

• Recommendation 8.7 – councils record the location of designated community fire refuges and NSPs in Municipal Fire Prevention Plans and Municipal Emergency Management Plans, and inform residents and visitors about their use and location (councils are struggling to implement this recommendation because of inadequate financial assistance from the Brumby Government); and

• Recommendation 10.6 – the CFA and DSE amend operating protocols to ensure that when an Incident Controller requests Victoria Police establish a roadblock to an area threatened by a bushfire, the Incident Controller simultaneously issues a bushfire warning to residents of that area (new requirements only require an Incident Controller to consider the need for a warning should a roadblock be initiated).

“Even where John Brumby claims to have acted, he has failed to ensure communities are better protected.” Mr. Baillieu said.

“The guidelines for the use of sirens in communities that John Brumby has developed are so rigid and bureaucratic that no community has been able to successfully cut through the red tape he has placed in their way.”

“This means communities who want to use sirens as an additional warning measure are banging their head against John Brumby’s bureaucratic brick wall, contrary to the clear intent of the Royal Commission’s recommendation on sirens.” Mr. Baillieu said.

There are also a host of areas where John Brumby has failed to heed previous warnings and recommendations on bushfire safety, including:

• the need for a single, multi-agency portal for bushfire information;

• adequate funding of the Victorian Bushfire Information Line;

• bushfire warnings; and

• The Standard Emergency Warning Signal.

“John Brumby has failed in his responsibility to do everything that can be done to protect Victorians from the threat of bushfire.” Mr. Baillieu said.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan

CHARITABLE TAX LAWS FAIL BUSHFIRE SURVIVORS

Victor P Taffa

Outdated tax laws continue to hinder the rebuilding and recovery effort in many bushfire-affected communities, Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan told Parliament this week.

“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition wrote to the Premier and Prime Minister in April 2009 to alert them to problems with the Federal Government’s charitable tax laws.” Mr. Ryan said.

“Many businesses and secondary home owners have been unable to access any of the $391 Million donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund simply because current tax laws threaten the charitable status of the Fund if grants are not made for ‘charitable purposes’.

“Australia’s outdated laws on charitable funds are still based on the Statute of Elizabeth which was enacted in England in 1601. It is a dreadful aberration that some Victorian bushfire victims are missing out on public donations because of a 400-year-old English statute.”

“Even the English have addressed this anomaly. In 2006 they introduced new laws repealing the Statute of Elizabeth and broadening the definition of ‘charitable purposes’. The awful irony is that if the current English law applied in Australia all bushfire victims would be entitled to share in the Fund.” Mr. Ryan said.

“The Coalition has repeatedly urged the Prime Minister to amend federal charitable tax laws or to enable the Australian Tax Office to make a special ruling that would allow Fund money to go to bushfire survivors, but the Brumby and Rudd/Gillard Governments have failed to act.”

Mr. Ryan said people generously donated to the Bushfire Appeal Fund on the understanding their money would help everybody affected by the Gippsland and Black Saturday bushfires.

“There is a large group of people who have been completely disenfranchised as a result of the ridiculousness of Australia’s charitable laws as they presently stand.” Mr. Ryan said.

“These laws need to be amended and I call on John Brumby to urge the Rudd/Gillard Government to address the issue as a matter of urgency.”

“In the days following Black Saturday, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told these people who had suffered losses that they would be supported by government and that we would see the rebuilding of properties ‘brick by brick’ and ‘street by street’.

“That is what these people were told but the harsh reality is the Brumby and Rudd-Gillard governments have failed bushfire survivors by not making the changes needed to Australia’s charitable laws.” Mr. Ryan said.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan

SECONDARY HOME OWNERS BLOCKED AT EVERY TURN ON BUSHFIRE HELP

Victor P Taffa

Secondary home owners attempting to rebuild their lives following the 2009 bushfires are being blocked at every turn according to Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan.

“Almost every form of assistance available to bushfire survivors has been denied for secondary home owners, causing emotional and financial grief.” Mr. Ryan said.

“The State and Federal Labor Governments should give greater consideration to secondary home owners as they too were dealt a heavy blow by the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires.”

“Secondary home owners looking to rebuild have been shocked to learn that they will no longer be reimbursed for the State Government Building Permit Levy.” Mr. Ryan said.

“The Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Rebate is also not available to secondary home owners, which adds to the feeling of isolation when it comes to bushfire recovery support.”

Mr. Ryan said secondary home owners had expressed strong concern about the costs associated with meeting the new standards for Building Attack Level requirements, which could reach up to $50,000.

“By far the biggest problem is outdated tax laws that have prevented non-primary home owners from accessing any of the Bushfire Appeal funds.” Mr. Ryan said.

“Premier Brumby and his Federal counterparts have ignored requests by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition to change this law as it has prevented secondary home owners from receiving much-needed support.”

Mr. Ryan said some level of help for secondary home owners was warranted but the Bushfire Relief Fund had been reluctant to grant special consideration for the release of Appeal money for fear of losing its charitable status.

“Many people who generously donated money to the Fund have expressed shock and disbelief that their money won’t help all bushfire victims, as they thought to be the case.” Mr. Ryan said.

Government inaction in providing assistance to bushfire survivors is simply not good enough. Giving the appearance of action does not rebuild the lives of disaster victims.

The Keneally Government has announced a ban on logging in Southern New South Wales and expects that the risk of bushfires will not increase.

The policy of not back burning in National Parks will fuel more and more intense fires and by appeasing a few will not save the homes of many.

Victoria Nationals Leader Peter Ryan

FUEL REDUCTION TARGETS ABANDONED IN STATE BUDGET

Victor P Taffa

The State Budget confirms the Brumby Government continues to ignore the urgent need for increased fuel reduction burns in Victoria, Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Leader of the Nationals Peter Ryan said today.

 “This government has repeatedly disregarded overwhelming advice for additional fuel reduction burning and has failed to act to reduce bushfire risk.” Mr. Ryan said.

 ”Now, not only has John Brumby failed to increase the current 130,000 hectare target, but he has refused to even set a target in this year’s budget.”

Mr. Ryan said there was a desperate need for additional fuel reduction burning across bushfire-prone areas throughout Victoria.

“In 2008 the Parliamentary Environment and Natural Resources Committee echoed previous recommendations when it called for the annual prescribed burning target to be increased from 130,000 hectares to 385,000 hectares.” Mr. Ryan said.

“The United Firefighters Union, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, the Victorian Association of Forest Industries and countless other groups agree with this proposition.”

“At the Bushfires Royal Commission Senior Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) personnel conceded the current target falls short of what is needed.”

“Lawyers for the Commission have also strongly recommended DSE achieve a minimum annual rate of at least 385,000 hectares or 5 % of public land.

“Despite this, the government has stated on numerous occasions it intends to move away from setting targets for fuel reduction and today’s budget unfortunately shows just that.”

Mr. Ryan said the Brumby Government’s failure to fund additional resources and personnel to boost fuel reduction burning would be the final straw for many.

“When it comes to the need to increase fuel reduction burning, the time to act was yesterday. We need to train additional firefighters now so we can immediately begin to tackle the risk to Victorian communities that dangerous fuel loads pose.” Mr. Ryan said.

“Setting an increased prescribed burning target and funding additional firefighters to fulfill it in yesterday’s budget would have given Victorians at least some hope that the Brumby Government understands this is a critical issue.”

“Instead we’ve been given confirmation the Brumby Government intends to gamble on the next fire season being as benign as the last, and Labor will again leave Victoria dangerously unprepared.” Mr. Ryan said.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan

JOHN BRUMBY SLOW TO ACT ON NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFER PLACES

Victor P Taffa

The Brumby Government is lagging well behind New South Wales on the implementation of neighbourhood safer places (NSPs), Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said today.

“John Brumby promised to identify Victoria’s NSPs before this bushfire season but only 54 safe havens have so far been identified, leaving many bushfire-prone communities without a place of last resort.” Mr Ryan said.

“In stark contrast New South Wales has implemented 670 NSPs which clearly highlights serious deficiencies in the way the Brumby Government has undertaken this important process.

“Both states have similar guidelines for identifying and assessing NSPs, therefore Victorian communities have a right to know why our state is so far behind.”

“The Brumby Government should be leading by example after last year’s bushfires but the fact that just 54 NSPs have been identified clearly shows a serious problem exists.”

Mr Ryan said the Brumby Government was unreasonably dragging its heels on a key promise to the Bushfires Royal Commission:

“The State to have commenced progressively identifying, establishing and advertising designated community refuges and neighbourhood safer places, giving priority to areas where bushfire risk is identified as high.” (Recommendation 8.7 Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report)

“The Victorian Government had a duty to identify, establish and advertise designated community refuges but John Brumby quickly handballed responsibility of NSPs to local government which is doing the best job possible given its limited resources.” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan urged the Brumby Government to investigate the approach New South Wales took to the designation of NSPs, given the state’s successful implementation of safe havens compared to Victoria.

“If there is a better process to establish NSPs then I urge John Brumby to overhaul the current system to ensure Victorians have a safe haven as soon as possible.” Mr Ryan said.

“The State Government must use every measure possible to ensure bushfire-prone communities have a place of last resort to shelter from fires.”