Page 4745 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. It is an important one as we are into our fire season in the ACT. We have seen more risk as we see drier conditions and the challenge that climate change is bringing across the ACT. Canberra’s urban forest is one of the key elements in preparing our city to be resilient against the effects of climate change, and enhancing the urban forest is a priority for government. Earlier this year the government committed to planting 17,000 trees on public land between now and 2023. This is a significant investment in our urban forest.
In combatting climate change I refer Ms Le Couteur to the SBMP, our strategic bushfire management plan. There is adaptive management looking at the effects of climate change in the SBMP.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, how has the ACT’s bushfire planning changed as a result of climate change, and do we have sufficient firefighting resources in place to combat the extreme fires that it is bringing?
MR GENTLEMAN: It is a challenge as we go forward, and that is why we resource our Fire & Rescue people and our Rural Fire Service as best as possible. The challenges of drier conditions really do impact across the territory. We have been lucky to date, but we will see even drier conditions as we lead up to Christmas this year. We have done some extensive work with the Bushfire Council and ESA in preparing those with the skills and knowledge to fight fires across the ACT. We have also invested in better resources. We have our SIG—special intelligence gathering—camera helicopter, and the LAPP which is out at Canberra Airport at the moment, which is a resource able to quickly fill our fixed wing aircraft with fire retardant. We have our mapping team, which works so well on looking at where fires go—fuel loads and wind conditions are examples—so that our firefighters can go out and prepare the way to deal with these fires.
MRS JONES: Minister, regarding the bushfire operational plan that you mentioned, what percentage of the BOP’s back-burning was achieved this past financial year?
MR GENTLEMAN: I do not have the percentage in front of me. I will take that on notice.
Visitors
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, before I give the next member the call in questions without notice, I want to acknowledge that in the gallery we have Ainslie Primary School students. They have been here on a program this morning. Welcome to your Assembly.
Questions without notice
Education—school chaplaincy program
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Education. Minister, what benefit have school chaplains provided to school communities at times of bereavement or relationship breakdown in ACT public schools?
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