Minister for Emergency Management
Minister for Emergency Management Robert McClelland today launched a new website to reduce the number of deliberately lit bushfires in Australia.
The Bushfire Arson Prevention website will educate the community about arson and provide people with the tools to identify risks and report suspicious activity.
“Sadly, up to 50 per cent of bushfires in Australia are deliberately lit or start in suspicious circumstances.
“Australia faces its highest grassfire risk for 40 years this summer, especially in the southeast of the country, with vegetation growth boosted by last summer’s floods,” Mr McClelland said.
“Each year, deliberately lit bushfires devastate communities, livelihoods and property, and in the worst cases, kill people.”
The website was developed in recognition of the important role the community plays in detecting suspicious behaviour of arsonists and working with police to keep the community safe.
“Government and emergency authorities can’t fight arson on their own – we need the help of the community,” Mr McClelland said.
“It is often locals who identify an area as a fire risk or are the first to notice suspicious behaviour of potential arsonists.
“People who commit bushfire arson are not always strangers and outsiders; arsonists can also be family members, friends, neighbours and colleagues.”
Mr McClelland encouraged people to visit the website to find out how they can take action against this potentially deadly crime.
“I thank state and territory police and fire agencies, the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre for their cooperation and work in establishing the website,” Mr McClelland said.
The Bushfire Arson Prevention website is available at www.bushfirearson.gov.au
Contact: Simon Ferguson – 6277 7667 or 0427 924 112
