Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Ministers statements: emergency services

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:28): I would like to rise to update the house on the extensive work our emergency services organisations are doing to make sure that Victoria is as prepared as possible for the upcoming high-risk season. They of course do not just sit around in the winter months waiting for summer. They have been working very hard to prepare over the colder months, and just last week I took part in the annual summer emergency event exercises, where agencies from across government respond to a potential emergency event, allowing them to confirm their roles, responsibilities and State Control Centre arrangements. I was lucky enough to attend as an observer, and I can confirm to the Parliament that our agencies and departments are ready to respond to anything that they may face this season.

I would also like to welcome the amazing Life Saving Victoria to Parliament today, and I urge members to visit them upstairs in the Legislative Council committee room. They are there until 2 pm if you have not said hi already. Last week the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services joined Life Saving Victoria for the official flags-up for the 2024 summer season, marking the beginning of the annual patrol season. From 9 November to 27 April volunteer and paid firefighters will raise red and yellow flags across patrolled locations, helping to keep Victorians and visitors safe at our iconic beaches and waterways.

Every drowning in our waterways is a tragedy and one too many. The message to anyone heading out to the water is pretty simple: visit a patrolled beach, swim between the red and yellow flags, read safety signs and make sure you are aware of the conditions via the Bureau of Meteorology app or the Beachsafe app. Preparedness of course is a responsibility shared between our emergency services and the community, whether it is preparing your property for a potential bushfire or checking water conditions before you swim.