Minister Jihad Dib updated the house on the Minns Labor Government’s efforts to improve bushfire preparedness.

ARAB NEWS (SYDNEY -AUSTRALIA ) For the last couple of years, the focus of emergency services has very much been on floods and storms. And when we’ve been focussed on that, it could be quite easy to become complacent about fire seasons. 


But we know during the last massive fire season in 2019 and 2020 the impact it had, not only across the state, but it was quite massive as a world event in itself.

We’ve actually now seen – due to the rain over the last few years – the impact in terms of vegetation growth that’s occurring. And it’s been no secret that we haven’t been able to meet all of our targets when it comes to hazard reduction. That is primarily because of the wet weather we have been facing.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome the new NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Mr. Trent Curtin who started only a few months ago. Welcome, Commissioner. This is your first fire season and we know you’ll be absolutely outstanding.

On Monday, we were able to join the excellent member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart for the launch of the new bushfire campaign in Engadine. Of course, we want people to get ready for the bushfire season, and this weekend, you can visit your RFS brigade. Some will be in halls, some will be in parks and community centres with advice on how you can Get Ready for the bushfire season. Jump onto the RFS website, visit the brigades, to get tips on what it is that you can do. We’ve actually got to take a role, all of us, in terms of preparing. 


Now, the theme this year is that ‘One Ember Can End It’.

One ember could be the thing that starts a fire, one ember, flying into your gutters. I know there are many members here who are members of the RFS – thank you very much for being part of that, but there really has to be an acknowledgement and a shout out to our close to 70,000 members of the RFS who put others ahead of themselves. They are there to protect the community.

So I encourage you to do what you can do – trim your trees, mow your lawn, clear your home of any combustible liquid, and make sure you have a sturdy hose.

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