Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 12 May 2026:

The effectiveness of preparedness, response and recovery arrangements and impacts on communities and industries, of the 2025-26 summer bushfires and storm surges in regional Victoria, including:

(a) preparedness, response and recovery functions by Commonwealth, state and local government agencies;

(b) the provision of meteorological advice by the Bureau of Meteorology;

(c) access to and resilience of critical utilities and telecommunications services;

(d) availability and responsiveness of insurance;

(e) the impacts on affected communities and on Victorian industries including the agricultural, construction, hospitality and tourism sectors; and

(f) any related matters.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will be opposing this motion. Considerable risk remains for many communities across Victoria affected by this event. There is also an increased risk of bushfire forecast for Victoria in February.

The inquiry would require additional work and resources from Commonwealth, state and local government staff, who are currently dedicated to responding and leading recovery efforts during the high-risk-weather season. Any additional burden to this workload would come at a cost to the people that these governments are trying to support. In good conscience, we can't support the motion while these teams are still working day and night.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate No. 4 standing in the name of Senator McKenzie be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take this opportunity to remind senators of standing order 101(6), which talks about needing to be in your seat once I've appointed tellers until the declaration has been given. I now move to business of the Senate No. 5 standing in the name of Senator Canavan.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe I've indicated I'd like that debated and not taken as formal.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wasn't advised of that, but thank you, Senator Canavan.