Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last month, the Victorian bushfires tore through communities with terrifying speed, particularly in the areas of Longwood, Harcourt, Walwa and the Otway Ranges. These fires have left families without homes. They have disrupted businesses and devastated farms and landscapes in many communities. Across Victoria, over 400,000 hectares have now been burnt. More than 1,500 structures, including over 400 homes, have been damaged or destroyed. Behind every number is a family, a livelihood and a future suddenly thrown into uncertainty. Tragically, the toll also includes a human life. Local cattle farmer Max Hobson died in the Longwood fire, and my thoughts are with his family and loved ones and the wider community that he was such a part of.

Recovery after a disaster isn't measured in days or weeks; it's measured in years. It requires ongoing commitment from all levels of government—local, state and federal—and the many communities and thousands of volunteers who always step up when it matters most. Last week's announcement of a further $160 million in recovery support from the federal and state governments is a significant step in that long journey, building on more than $210 million already committed. The support package covers a wide range of programs, from immediate clean-up and temporary accommodation to financial counselling for affected businesses and mental health support.

Alongside this assistance stands the extraordinary contribution of volunteers—the firefighters, the recovery workers, the local groups and the neighbours helping neighbours. They've been at the forefront of the bushfire response, working day and night to protect their communities. Their courage and compassion and tireless efforts restore hope and remind us of the very best of the Australian spirit in times of crisis.

The bravery of our emergency services doesn't stop with bushfires. Just a few weeks ago, on 15 January, while parts of the state were battling bushfires, communities and holiday-makers in Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne faced intense rainfall that caused flash flooding. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries or casualties. I want to thank the local SES crews and CFA brigades for keeping people safe and coordinating clean-up efforts.

I'd also like to recognise another remarkable group, Operation Veteran Assist, who have had a busy summer. Established after the 2020 Black Summer bushfires and led by the Hawthorn RSL sub-branch, OVA supports veterans who have lost homes, farms or livelihoods to bushfires. They clear fallen trees, restore access to properties, repair fences and demolish damaged outbuildings, making a real difference on the ground where it's needed most, particularly by the many veterans, who deserve their assistance. In one week 37 volunteers, who are themselves veterans, worked on eight properties in Alexandra and Ruffy, with the support of a range of RSL sub-branches, including Alexandra, Epping, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Noble Park, Seymour and some interstate affiliates. Well done to everyone involved. Their teamwork and generosity have made a real difference to veterans and their families during a very challenging time.

Before concluding, I also want to acknowledge Australia's forestry industry, which plays a vital role in bushfire prevention, mitigation and response. Each year, our forestry sector invests over $100 million in these efforts. According to the Australian Forest Product Association, forestry businesses maintain 137 fire towers with detection cameras and investment worth $8 million. They create firebreaks and perform road maintenance and prescribed burns, worth almost $65 million. They provide over 1,200 response appliances, such as bulk water carriers, and 1,500 trained personnel, representing nearly $30 million in frontline capability.

As Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Forestry, Timber and Paper Products, I am proud to highlight the industry's important role, not just in employing many workers in regional towns but also in defending towns from bushfires. Above all, the Albanese government stands with every Victorian affected by this year's bushfires, not just in the immediate aftermath but over the long road to recovery. We're committed to working alongside communities, emergency services and volunteers to ensure that support is there every step of the way. Together, we will rebuild not just what was lost but stronger, safer and more resilient communities for the future.

I also wanted to rise tonight in the Senate to express my solidarity with the people of Iran and endorse the decisive action taken by the Albanese government earlier today, announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Since 28 December last year, the Iranian regime has responded to peaceful protests with extraordinary and horrifying violence against its own people. Tens of thousands of Iranians have been brutally murdered—reportedly, over 80,000. Many thousands more have been arrested, beaten or simply disappeared. Millions of brave Iranians are being terrorised by an evil regime for simply advocating for the basic human rights that we all take for granted here in Australia: the right to democratically elect their own government; equal rights, dignity and respect for women; individual rights and freedoms protected by the rule of law; and the right to a government which serves its people. The regime has attempted to conceal the scale of its brutality through nationwide internet and telecommunication blackouts—a tactic that is designed to weaponise fear and silence witnesses.

Today, the federal government has taken further action in response. Australia is imposing targeted financial sanctions on 20 individuals and three entities, including senior officials and entities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These are people and organisations that are complicit in violating and repressing protests and threatening lives both inside Iran and beyond its borders. This action builds on Australia's listing of the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism and our comprehensive sanctions framework against Iran. It also brings the total number of Iranian individuals and entities sanctioned by this government to more than 200, including over 100 linked directly to the IRGC. These sanctions are not symbolic; they are targeted, deliberate and designed to impose real consequences on those responsible for repression and violence, showing that Australia stands firmly with the people of Iran. The protests that we have seen in Iran are not merely about economic concerns, nor are they fleeting expressions of discontent. They reflect deep and longstanding grievances about repression, corruption and the denial of basic human rights. The Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage in the face of live ammunition, mass arrests and systemic intimidation.

I also want to speak directly to the impact that this is having here in Australia. Across our country, and particularly in Melbourne, members of the Australian Iranian community have watched these events unfold with profound anguish. Many have families, friends and loved ones at risk. Many have taken to our streets peacefully and lawfully to express their solidarity with those protesting in Iran and to call for accountability. Their voices matter, their concerns are legitimate and their advocacy has played an important role in ensuring that the international community does not look away. Australia is strengthened by a diaspora that remains deeply connected to its heritage while contributing to our democratic life. The Persian community have enriched our society as educators, professionals, artists, business owners and community leaders. Their lived experience gives urgency and clarity to our response. The government stands with the Iranian diaspora in Australia. We recognise the fear, the grief and the anger many are feeling, and we acknowledge the courage it takes to speak out, even from afar, against a regime that has shown itself willing to punish dissent.

Australia's message is clear: the use of violence against civilians, the silencing of dissent and the systemic denial of human rights will not be met with indifference. We are acting alongside international partners to hold the Iranian regime to account and to work to end its oppression and destabilisation. We will continue to use every diplomatic and economic tool at our disposal to support accountability and to defend the rules based international order. I want to acknowledge the bravery of the Iranian people—the women, the men, the students, the workers and the families—who continue to speak out. Australia stands with you. Today's sanctions reaffirm our commitment. The Albanese government will continue to act calmly, firmly and consistently in defence of human rights, international law and human dignity. But history is clear: regimes that shoot their own people eventually fall. The only question is: how many will they take with them along the way?