Andrea Dawkins On tomorrow to move -
hat this House notes:
1. That the scale and frequency of fuel reduction burns have increased from the creation of a buffer zone around certain homes or areas to what is now broadscale incineration involving aerial incendiaries setting fire to regions of forest and bushland;
2. The recent research undertaken by Prof. Michael Clarke of La Trobe University, indicating that incorrect fire patterns could see complete losses to threatened species across the country;
3. The reports published by the CSIRO and Birdlife Australia indicating that inappropriate fire regimes could threaten more than 50 Australian mammal and 50 Australian bird species;
4. The comments by University of Tasmania Professor, Chris Johnson, that threatened species will be even further threatened by a combination of fatal intense fires, as well as habitat loss from burn offs;
5. That, additionally, years of logging and intensive regeneration burns have seen habitat reduced significantly, leaving even less viable options for wildlife attempting to flee wildfires and reduction burns;
6. The research indicating that reintroduction of digging animals, such as bandicoots, in some areas could play a role in fire management and fire safety in the future by creating natural firebreaks; and
Further, that this House:
7. Calls on the Liberal government to closely and carefully consider the impact of burns and fires on native wildlife when undertaking any assessment of reduction burns and bushfire management.
