Page 466 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 10 February 2009
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father wrote an email back to me, saying that he could not answer my email because he was at Yackandandah, fighting the bushfires. There are almost 100 Canberrans there. As Mr Smyth said, I am sure that there will be others to follow. We pay tribute to them, because we have received much from the people of Australia during our adversity in 2003. It is now incumbent upon us to repay some of that debt. I am sure that the people of Canberra will rise to the occasion.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women): I am deeply saddened to be standing here and speaking on this motion of condolence. For most Australians, bushfires are a natural, though greatly feared, part of life. They are a common summer occurrence across our country. For those of us living in close proximity to bush and agricultural land, bushfires are a constant worry. We know that great vigilance is required, and we know that precautions, information and a coordinated community response can save properties and, most importantly, save lives. But so often the forces of nature are too big, too fierce and too powerful to contain. The devastation that has visited Victoria defies belief. Not only was the heat, ferocity and magnitude of these bushfires out of the order of anything previously experienced in this country, but the extreme human toll has been simply heartbreaking. Every Canberran who was affected by the horrific bushfires experienced here in 2003 will have sympathy for what those in Victoria are now going through. My heart goes out to them.
The extensive media reports coming out over the last few days have read like a tragic novel. At the moment, it seems somewhat unreal—the number of homes razed, belongings extinguished and properties ruined, the devastation and desperation on the faces of those searching for loved ones, the ever-escalating death toll. Whole families have lost lives; parents desperately battling to save their properties have lost children; wives have lost husbands and husbands their wives; friends, colleagues and neighbours are gone. Countless wild animals and farm animals have been destroyed. But in an expression of all that is good and strong about the human spirit, there are also stories emerging of hope, of heroes and of survival.
The outpouring of support, whether through an influx of willing blood donors, donations of cash, clothes or household goods, or offers to go down to the affected areas and do something—anything—to help out, shows what a wonderful sense of community we have in this country, especially when times are tough.
The ACT community has already shown its strong and immediate support for the battle still being waged in Victoria. Firefighters and equipment have been deployed to Victoria to assist with the fire-fighting effort. Ninety emergency services officers, including firefighters, paramedics and SES volunteers, have gone down to defend a containment line near Stanley.
At this time, I must recognise the very great work done by our firefighters—those for whom this dangerous job is their profession, and those who risk their lives to help their neighbours through our volunteer services, and also other emergency services personnel, the ambulance and police officers, who are on the ground and responding to this disaster.
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