The Baillieu-Ryan Government has botched Fire Action Week preparation with seven municipalities already declared to be in the fire danger period.
Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response, Jacinta Allan said it was clear the Deputy Premier and Bushfire Response Minister, Peter Ryan, had held Fire Action Week too late with the CFA already declaring Swan Hill, Mildura, Colac Otway, Corangamite, Buloke, Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh in the fire danger period.
“Fire Action Week is about encouraging Victorians to prepare early to reduce the risk of fire, but this year Mr Ryan has delayed it, making the important education message too late for many parts of the state,” Ms Allan said.
“Under Labor, Fire Action Week was a collective effort between the State Government, fire agencies, local councils, business, schools and residents. It was held weeks ahead of the start of the declared fire season to help prepare the state for the coming bushfire season.
“This partnership helped make Victoria as fire-safe and fire-ready as possible through early preparation. This year Fire Action Week has been delayed with many communities already declared by the CFA to be in the fire danger period.
“While the CFA volunteers and staff have been working overtime to help Victorians prepare, the Baillieu-Ryan Government should have been working in partnership with CFA rather than delaying important events like Fire Action Week.”
Ms Allan said the Opposition had warned Mr Ryan that mid-November was too late for Fire Action Week.
“Labor has been making the case for weeks that Fire Action Week needed to be sooner, but Mr Ryan has taken his eye off the ball in preparing the state for the fire season,” she said.
“Mr Ryan has already mismanaged the police portfolio, and now he has neglected seven council areas to prepare for this summer’s fire season.
“Maybe Mr Ryan was just unaware that many areas of the state are at risk from fires earlier than others and it is his job to help them prepare well before late in November.”