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Ms SHING Eastern Victoria

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BUSHFIRES

Thursday 5 March 2020

Ms SHING (Eastern Victoria) (10:01): A year ago we saw significant fires across Gippsland, and we saw significant devastation as dozens of homes were lost across the Bunyip, Tynong North, Tonimbuk and Yinnar areas. We have seen a really concerted effort in interoperability in recent weeks and months following the fires that began in eastern Victoria and in Gippsland on 21 November. Just one year ago we saw 29 houses destroyed in a bushfire that was sparked by lightning strikes in the Bunyip State Park. This necessitated aerial strikes, on-ground work, intensive interoperability and large-scale efforts to make sure that this vicious fire, which often burnt bright white in places, was able to be contained and in fact did not cross the highway into Bunyip. My thanks are with everyone who worked so hard throughout that particular fire, who came from all over the state to assist. My thoughts are with the families who continue to work to rebuild and to recover, and my support lies with them in the work that we all undertake to make sure that long-term recovery efforts go to the areas that need them.