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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (30 January) . . Page.. 18 ..

MR PRATT (continuing):

The community interest and the future safety of citizens and property are of overriding and primary importance. It is our responsibility as a community, led by our government, to respond to rational calls made by the community and our constituents. That is why we in the opposition have publicly urged the government to undertake the broad, fully independent inquiry necessary to quickly and accurately draw out all of the lessons to be learnt from this disaster.

I hope that the government will expedite such an inquiry so that we may apply the lessons as quickly as possibly. We still have a fair amount of the bushfire season remaining. Therefore, the government will be expected to organise such an inquiry in a fashion that allows the most urgent lessons to be promulgated through preliminary reporting so that our authorities can implement them before much more time elapses. Of course, we understand and applaud the fact that the ESB and other emergency services agencies are going to undertake operational audits, but those and the broader inquiry that we are calling for should be entirely independent of each other.

Mr Speaker, there are a number of lessons arising now, or likely to arise, which we would recommend the government look at. As to commonality of equipment and operational procedures, there is clearly a need to examine radio and general communication systems and associated operational procedures to satisfy ourselves that essential needs are being met. Firstly, a double-check of radio equipment and frequency capabilities is required to ensure commonality amongst all ACT emergency agencies. That is supposed to be the case, but it does require double-checking.

Secondly, an urgent question arises about the commonality between ACT emergency services agencies and New South Wales agencies of equipment and software. As we will continue to depend on interstate agencies, and vice-versa, it is imperative that such commonality exists. Thirdly, an urgent question arises about communication frequency capabilities in all ground emergency units for aircraft communication. Operational and logistical linkages between ground units and firefighting, surveillance and medivac helicopters, as well as fixed wing aircraft, are imperative. We must make sure that those systems are in place.

Mr Speaker, the opposition has been calling frequently for mandatory education programs in schools since, I think, September 2002. The opposition has before that called for information and liaison programs run by urban and rural fire units communicating with the residents of frontline vulnerable suburbs. I know that some community education occurs, but I think that it is haphazard. Clearly, we know that such education has reached precious few frontline suburban families. A more concerted effort is needed.

The authorities need to encourage neighbourhood groups in vulnerable streets to congregate with fire units and, under instruction, familiarise themselves with their local bushfire environment and the likely fire scenarios relevant to their neighbourhoods. Residents in vulnerable suburbs need to be instructed in personal fire preparations, they need to be drilled in evacuation procedures and they need to have made clear to them what the command and control procedures are in their particular suburbs.

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