Private Member’s Statement: Bushfire Preparedness

Legislative Assembly Hansard - 3 February 2026

Bushfire Preparedness

Mr JUSTIN CLANCY (Albury) (18:23): Bushfires do not recognise State borders, yet with the recent Mount Lawson‑Walwa bushfire, we once again saw the challenges of a border in the response to bushfire. For communities along the New South Wales‑Victoria border, a river should not determine how a fire is fought, how people are warned or evacuated, or whether support flows when it is needed most. Communities south of the Murray, including Koetong, Cudgewa and surrounding districts, experienced significant disruption, fear and fatigue during this event. They are in our hearts and minds as they undertake recovery. On the New South Wales side, border communities were also impacted—not just through road closures, evacuation pressures and loss of access to properties, but also by the emotional toll that accompanies prolonged fire threat, particularly during ongoing drought.

I acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our Rural Fire Service. Our leaders, including Kelwyn White, Tom McDevitt, Jon Gregory, James Crain and, in particular, Jed Taylor, along with the many men and women who stood beside them, demonstrated professionalism, local knowledge and commitment under extremely difficult conditions. Their service deserves the thanks of this Parliament. I also acknowledge the critical role played by local service providers and community organisations. In particular, FoodShare worked alongside councils, volunteers and community groups to ensure that food and essential supplies reached people under significant stress and disruption. When formal systems were stretched, those local organisations provided practical, immediate support on the ground. FoodShare's experience during this and previous emergencies highlights the importance of having locally based infrastructure that can scale rapidly in times of crisis. Border communities are often among the first impacted and the last to receive assistance, and a well‑resourced regional hub is essential to ensuring timely, coordinated and dignified support when disasters occur. Strengthening this local capacity is not just about recovery; it is a core part of emergency preparedness and community resilience.

It is important to be honest about the lessons that continue to emerge from cross‑border fire events. During the Mount Lawson‑Walwa fire, communities experienced confusion around warnings, road closures and access; difficulties in intelligence sharing; challenges with aviation deployment; and uncertainty around evacuation arrangements. Despite direct impacts on New South Wales communities and councils, the fire was classified as a Victorian event, meaning no section 44 declaration was made and no disaster funding flowed to affected New South Wales councils. Local governments were left to absorb significant unplanned costs at a time of considerable financial pressure. These issues are not new. Many were clearly identified by the State and national bushfire royal commissions following the Black Summer fires, yet border communities continue to ask why progress on the ground feels so slow. This is not about blame; it is about learning, improving and ensuring that communities living along State borders are not disadvantaged by jurisdictional lines on a map. I strongly support calls for a formal cross‑border debrief of the Walwa fire, involving emergency services, councils, community leaders and both Cross‑Border Commissioners.

I also acknowledge the significant impact this fire will have on the softwood industry and on timber communities such as Tumbarumba. Initial estimates indicate that between 11,000 and 12,000 hectares of pine plantation have been affected, representing many years of future timber supply. While the fire may have occurred across the border, the consequences will be felt directly in New South Wales through our mills, contractors, transport operators and local communities. The scale and urgency of the salvage task will place considerable pressure on local infrastructure, with heavy vehicle movements through Tumbarumba expected to increase sharply. At the same time, mills face a challenging market, limited capacity to scale up, constrained working capital and rising processing and transport costs. Without targeted support, those pressures risk undermining local jobs, cash flow and long‑term industry viability.

I call on the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments to work closely with industry to ensure that appropriate and timely support is in place, including measures to reduce transport and processing costs, support salvage operations and assist local councils and communities managing the flow‑on effects. Supporting this industry is not only about recovery from this fire; it is about protecting regional employment, supply chains and the economic resilience of communities like Tumbarumba. Border communities are resilient, but they should not have to be repeatedly tested by systems that do not reflect the reality of how fires behave. We owe it to them and to our volunteers to do better in future fire seasons.