Tuesday, 17 October 2023
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall moved a motion in State Parliament today calling on the government to provide emergency bushfire support, with growing concerns about six large fires which have so far burned out 10,000 hectares of farming and public land across the region.
Mr Marshall placed a motion on the Parliament’s notice paper today, calling for immediate action, in line with the support provide during previous disasters.
“There are a number of primary producers in the Ashford and Wallangra area who have suffered extensive damage and loss of fodder and pasture for their livestock,” Mr Marshall said.
“They have also suffered a loss of stock water from Rural Fire Service aerial fire-fighting actions.
“The Ashford and Wallangra fire is still active and has currently burnt through more than 4,000 hectares.
“I have requested the government provide emergency provisions including fodder and water to ensure livestock welfare in the coming weeks.
“This has been successfully delivered in past bushfires, including in our region, where large amounts of farmland has been destroyed and farmers left with displaced stock and no feed for them nor fences to contain them.
“This support should and must be provide again to avoid an animal welfare disaster, on top of the obvious and visible bushfire damage.”
Mr Marshall said the fires had already impacted farming businesses, animal welfare and operations during a time of severe dry and drought conditions.
“Primary producers have been hard hit with the loss of vital early spring pastures for their livestock which have now gone up in smoke,” he said.
“With no rain in the immediate forecast period, they will be left with many hungry mouths to feed.
“I also want to take the opportunity to praise the outstanding efforts of Rural Fire Service volunteers and personnel who have worked tirelessly to protect our community in challenging conditions.
“I’ll continue to keep the pressure on the government to deliver this support to our hardest hit farmers and communities.”
Mr Marshall’s motion in Parliament today:
That this House:
1. Notes that six large fires are currently active across the Northern Tablelands electorate, so far burning out almost 10,000 hectares of farming and public land;
2. Acknowledges the impact these fires have already had on farming businesses, animal welfare and operations during a time of severe dry and drought conditions;
3. Praises the outstanding efforts of Rural Fire Service volunteers and personnel who have worked tirelessly to protect our community in challenging conditions; and
4. Requests the government to provide immediate assistance to bushfire-affected landholders, in line with previous disasters, in the form of emergency fodder and water drops to ensure the welfare of displaced livestock and farm animals.