Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Sheldon, for your ongoing interest in these issues. Can I start by acknowledging that there are a number fires currently burning at advice level in New South Wales, and of course there are also bushfires underway in Queensland and the Northern Territory. In terms of the New South Wales fires, Senator Sheldon, while at this stage there is no immediate threat to communities, it is important that people who live in the vicinity of those fires monitor the NSW Rural Fire Service's website or Hazards Near Me app in case there is a change in conditions. I've seen some weather forecasts for the next week which indicate quite a lot of hot and windy weather coming across the continent, so we all really need to stay aware of conditions in our local communities.

In addition, as you would have seen, this week we received the very sad confirmation that a man died in a fire near Kempsey, in New South Wales. While investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding that incident, I'd like to send our deepest condolences to that man's family, friends and community. That death is a stark reminder of the types of fast-moving and erratic fires we are expecting to see this fire season, and I really do ask everyone to have a plan in place in advance of fires and, wherever possible, to avoid bushfire risk areas on days of catastrophic fire risk.

In addition, earlier this month we saw fires in the Bega Valley, which impacted upon four homes, and at the very same time we saw in Victoria severe weather and flooding occurring in Gippsland. The Commonwealth has worked with the New South Wales and Victorian governments to activate support for those incidents through our disaster recovery funding arrangements. In New South Wales, assistance has been made available in the Bega Valley shire for eligible people who need assistance following those events. There is essential financial assistance made possible and concessional interest rate loans. In Victoria, assistance has been made available as well.