The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to better protecting Tasmanian lives and property from bushfires.
Today’s tabling of an update by the Auditor-General on the implementation of recommendations of the 2013 Bushfire Inquiry demonstrates substantial progress.
Of the 30 recommendations prioritised for immediate implementation, the Auditor-General has found 26 are 100 per cent complete.
The Auditor-General has assessed the other four as 75 per cent complete, noting in three cases that last summer was a relatively benign fire season and requiring reviews after a more active season.
Much has been learned from the bushfires that devastated the community of Dunalley in 2013, and this Government is determined to heed the lessons.
That’s why we have committed to a record $28.5 million investment in the most comprehensive cross-tenure fuel reduction program in this State’s history.
In 2014-15, the total area subject to fuel reduction burns was 28,410 hectares, a significant increase on the 17,800 burnt in the previous year, which means that Tasmania is better prepared than ever for the coming bushfire season.
One of the Auditor-General’s recommendations from the 2013 Bushfire Inquiry was for a strategic fuel management plan to include measurable targets and that they are actively monitored and reported to the community.
In June, the Fuel Reduction Program Steering Committee agreed to 36 key performance indicators (KPIs), with reporting at the end of each burning season.
The Auditor-General requires a report in relation to the agreed KPIs, which is scheduled for after the fuel reduction burns in autumn, meaning it should be available by mid-2016.
In his review, the Auditor-General also assessed 25 secondary recommendations, with 21 being assessed as having seen a “high level of implementation” and four requiring ongoing attention.
Two of these relate to improving communications between Tasmania Police and our emergency services, an area in which we are also investing.
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