Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Next week is Bushfire Action Week in South Australia. I would like to remind the thousands of my constituents who live in areas of bushfire danger that they should know their risk, prepare their properties and stay informed. We have had persistent warmer-than-average conditions recently, meaning that fuel loads across the state are drier and there is a greater risk of bushfire. Just a few hours ago, the CFS announced that summer fire restrictions will be brought forward by two weeks in nine South Australian fire districts, including those in my electorate of Boothby. Also today, we have heard that the Bureau of Meteorology is warning the outlook for fires this summer does not look good and that the El Nino is likely to result in 2015 being the hottest ever recorded year for the globe.

Bushfires are an inherent part of the South Australian landscape and bring with them the potential for life-threatening consequences. Preparation is the key to surviving a bushfire. For the next two weeks, local residents living in areas of bushfire risk will be receiving my bushfire action plan checklist in their mailbox. I encourage them to put it on their fridge as a reminder both that they need a comprehensive bushfire plan and of specific local issues which have been flagged by the Sturt CFS. There are simple and familiar things you can do that may ultimately save the lives of you and your loved ones.