Friday, 2 November 2007

Sykes: Fire water, Government feels heat, Parliamentary debate postponed

The Victorian Government has postponed debate on the Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Bill after finally realising that they have a major problem with their confusing and inequitable policies in relation to replacing water taken from private storages to fight fires, particularly fires on public land.

Bill Sykes, Nationals Spokesperson for Police & Emergency Services said, “The penny has finally dropped with the Minister for Police & Emergency Services that:-

• Different Ministers have different versions of the Government policy. The Minister for Police & Emergency Services says only critical water supplies will be replaced (ie only a small percentage of water and affected landholders).
  
  The Minister for the Environment says all landholders will be compensated for water taken from private landholders for DSE fire fighting operations.
   
• The Insurance Council of Australia is rapidly reviewing their attitude to the Government claim that water taken to fight fires is claimable on insurance when in fact it is not included in many current fire policies.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I would encourage the Minister for Police & Emergency Services to do his homework properly on this issue and when he does he will realise that The Nationals proposal to enshrine the Government’s responsibility to replace water taken from private storages to fight fires, especially those on public land, is the most equitable approach.

Minister - Questions

• Bushfires - water sources - 9th October
   
• Bushfires - water sources - 1st November
   
• Additional Clarification

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989