Friday, 23 November 2007

Fire Water: Nats win time

The successful passing of a National Party amendment to the Emergency Services Amendment Legislation Bill last night in Parliament to defer debate on the Bill has been welcomed by Nationals Spokesperson for Police & Emergency Services, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “Deferment of debate on this Bill will allow time to address the critical issue of replacing water taken from private storages to fight fires which are often on Crown Land.

“In addition, deferment will allow time to address another important concern, that of rights of property owners to return and/or stay on their property to defend the property in the face of fires.”

Dr Sykes expanded, “The Emergency Services Amendment Legislation Bill has many good features however these two issues are so important The Nationals took this stand and won the support of the Liberals and the Greens to have the motion to defer debate on the Bill passed when the Bill was debated late last night in the Upper House.

“Peter Hall, Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria led the debate in the Upper House.

“Mr Hall highlighted his concern regarding the Government’s view that the loss of water taken to fight fires may be claimed on a property owner’s insurance policy.

“It is evident that there is significant variation between insurance companies and insurance policies on this matter.

Similarly, Mr Hall highlighted Government ministers have different versions of the Government policy of replacing water used. The Minister for the Environment says all landholders who have water taken to fight DSE fires will be compensated.

“On the other hand, the Minister for Police & Emergency Services says that only critical water supplies will be replaced, that is, water which is deemed essential for the health and well being of people, pets and livestock.

“This Minister’s version of Government policy involves replacement of only a small percentage of water taken from a small percentage of people – not all people as stated by the Minister for the Environment.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I congratulate Mr Hall on his success in having the Bill deferred and I now call on the Government to sit down with affected people and The Nationals to work out a practical common sense solution to replacement of water used for fire fighting.

Similarly, the issue of property owners rights to protect their assets which is a concern to The Nationals, Liberals and Greens and for which the Greens moved an amendment, needs to be addressed.

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

Editors: refer full Parliamentary debate www.parliament.vic.gov.au  noting two amendments, one from The Nationals and one from the Greens.