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CRAIG COMMENTS |
Fighting fire with fire
Wednesday 24th January 2007
Prior to Christmas in an editorial in this newspaper, Peter Hall MLC accused me of being responsible for the lack of fuel reduction burning and by implication partially to blame for the current fires. These allegations just could not go unanswered, especially fresh from the election in which I was blamed by the National Party for everything from the shortage of health professionals to stopping tourists coming to East Gippsland. Now, according to Peter, I am also responsible for the latest fires. I know I have broad shoulders, but this is a load that I just should not have to carry.
East Gippslanders know that I have been a staunch and vocal advocate for more fuel reduction burning, both in Parliament, in submissions to government and in the media. This was long before the 2002/3 fires when it became publicly and politically popular. So while Peter is prepared to follow along on the National Party election campaign blaming me for all of the ills of the government, let’s look at the real facts.
There are a number of reasons why DSE and public land managers cannot meet fuel reduction burning targets. These include red tape and restrictive prescribed burn guidelines (which I have been fighting to have addressed), seasonal conditions and the drought (if you believe the spin of government on climate change). These are hardly in my control.
I believe the main barrier in achieved prescribed burning targets is lack of resources. This is an area that I have constantly and passionately advocated to have addressed. It is ironic that as a former Kennett Government member, Peter Hall would have the gall to criticise me for the lack of fuel reduction burning. The major resource reductions across East Gippsland occurred under Peter’s watch.
At Cann River, for example, the National Party supported the slash and burn staff cutbacks that occurred. DSE/parks staff at Cann River were slashed in half, from of 24 to 12. At the same time during Peter Hall’s political watch, DSE bulldozers and other fire fighting equipment stood idle across the region due to the department having no funds to put diesel in the tanks or to employ operators to drive the machines. This may explain why in the seven years of the Kennett government the department never met the targets set down in the fire management plans and in fact were 50% below their own targets.
But as we can see from Peter’s editorial, the Nationals do have a selective view of history. They have constantly criticised me for my “Labor mates”, yet the Age newspaper on December 5, 2006, reported that the Nationals would “be keen to work with a Labor Government”.
One should question wether they are keen to work with Labor in the interests of their constituents or in an attempt to pay back the Liberal Party in revenge for standing against them in the election. Voters should also be reminded that the hypocritical Nats are in coalition with the South Australian Labor Government, and have a Minister in that Labor Government.
There may well be another inquiry following the current fires, but what is really needed are more resources and a cultural change in fire management, and I will be at the forefront once again raising the issues of community concern that have resulted from these fires.
