Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Reynolds representing the Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management. On the last sitting day of last year, I asked the then minister, Bridget McKenzie, if Australia had sufficient aerial firefighting capability. The answer was yes. As we all know, there was not enough capability, and the federal government and states had to substantially boost the aerial firefighting fleet and associated costs by leasing additional planes and sourcing crews from overseas. The delay most certainly hampered the firefighting capability. Minister, given that the economic cost of the bushfires is estimated by economists to exceed $100 billion and that due to climate change we are likely to have more horrific seasonal fires, isn't it now time for government to invest in a fleet of permanent large air tankers owned and operated by Australia?