Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I note the government’s response, but I draw to the attention of the Senate the fact that there was a report in 2005 on Australia’s readiness to deal with a catastrophic event or disaster. That report showed that Australia was not ready and that the states did not have the capability. It was suppressed by the Howard government, then suppressed by the Rudd government and it only came to light as the result of an FOI request because of the media.

As a response to it, Minister Gillard wrote to the states in March this year, asking them to do an audit and to provide to her a response before this year’s bushfire season as to their readiness to address a bushfire. They did not do it and they still have not done it. It was deferred until COAG, after which we have already had fires burning in several states across Australia in the last few weeks—the bushfire season is already underway.

If Australia had to rely on COAG to have this nation ready for a catastrophic event, then we should be frightened. The likelihood of them ever getting their act together through the COAG process to have us ready for a catastrophic event is pretty remote. I think it is incumbent on the Senate to take a much greater interest in the lack of preparedness around the country, and the need for far better Commonwealth involvement and leadership on this issue and not just leave it to the states. I think that, especially, events across state boundaries are matters of considerable interest. I urge the Senate to support this motion.

Question agreed to.