Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Reynolds and Senator Smith, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the severity of recent catastrophic bushfires across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, and extends its deepest sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives, livelihoods, homes, property and livestock;

(b) acknowledges the impact of devastating bushfires on the community;

(c) urges the Government to work closely with the states and territories in bushfire prevention, preparedness, response and recovery;

(d) recognises that, in forests throughout Australia, combustible fuels have accumulated to levels that severely challenge safe fire suppression;

(e) encourages state and territory authorities to focus on bushfire prevention when developing strategies to protect their communities and the environment;

(f) recalls the practice of mosaic burning of the bush practised by Aboriginal peoples extending back thousands of years; and

(g) calls on more focussed work by fire agencies and research institutions to minimise the impact of devastating bushfires in affected communities.