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P A R L I A M E N T O F A U S T R A L I A

H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

MEDIA RELEASE 21 JANUARY 1985

DAVID CONNOLLY, MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR ARTS, HERITAGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

National Bushfire Task Force needed

The Opposition today called on the Federal Government to initiate with the States, a national bushfire task force to improve public awareness; research into fire supression and behaviour; and the provision of adequate equipment to

fight fires.

Shadow Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment, David Connolly said the task force should include the Ministers for Defence, Environment, Science and Education and State Ministers responsible for bushfires.

— . , "Recent bushfires are estimated to have cost over $20 million 1 , this year alone, which demonstrates clearly that the Ash Wednesday ί tragedy was not an isolated phenomenon," he said.

.... Mr Connolly said the Australian Government must face the fact that bushfires are one of our greatest natural threats and that they occur almost annually.

"The Federal Government should initiate, through the task force, a national education and awareness campaign aimed at improving public awareness of the dangers of bushfires.

"Many of the recent fires in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia had been started along highways from careless motorists throwing cigarette butts from cars."

Mr Connolly said a national campaign similar to the "Do the Right Thing" litter prevention campaign should be aimed at the dangers of such practices.

"The Government must also revise its decision to curtail funding l ' for research into bushfire supression and control.

"To date, the Government has failed to recognise the necessity of such research, cutting funds to CSIRO for the important Project Aquarius water and chemical bombing experiment initiated by the former Coalition Government."

Mr Connolly said the Project, if completed would provide substantial benefits for fire control officers and for the planning stages of land use, as well as determining the most effective control and supression techniques.

"While the Ash Wednesday tragedy was estimated to cost some $500 million, the Government refuses to fund the $1.2 million necessary for the completion of Project Aquarius."

He said Government budget cuts were also responsible for the scaling down of the other main national bushfire research at the Chisholm Institute's National Centre for Rural Fire Research.

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"The Federal Government must also explain why 16 Grumman Tracker aircraft used in America and Europe for fire-fighting have not been modified for use on fires throughout south-eastern Australia.

"The Government has them in storage awaiting purchase by the French Government where they will be used for bush and forest fires in southern Europe."

Mr Connolly said a bushfire task force should be responsible for identifying such surplus equipment and determining whether they could be utilised by Federal or State authorities to combat bushfires.

Contact: David Connolly, Toni Wren (062) 72 7087

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