Lara Giddings: Interim Bushfire Recovery Committee

Premier Lara Giddings today announced the formation of an interim committee tasked with overseeing the recovery phase of the Tasmanian bushfires.

Ms Giddings said established under Section 12 of the Emergency Management Act, the Interim Bushfire Recovery Committee would oversee the process of recovery working hand-in-hand with local communities and ensuring their needs are met.

“There is already lot of work underway and a lot more that will need to be done.

“Communities have been ravaged by fire. They have lost services, facilities, infrastructure as well as homes and land.

“The IBRC will oversee these efforts ahead of a longer term Bushfire Recovery Taskforce, the details of which I intend to announce as soon as possible.

“Over the next 24 hours, I will be consulting with local government in affected fire areas to make sure their voices are clearly heard on our recovery efforts.

“We are mindful that our current immediate priority is continuing to fight the fires that still pose a very real risk to lives and property.

“But the need for communities to have recovery plans is also a factor which needs to be addressed.

“The State Government will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with bushfire-affected communities to have them rebuilt, and we will do whatever it takes for this to happen.

Ms Giddings said the IBRC would consist of herself, Deputy Premier Bryan Green, Minister for Police and Emergency Management David O’Byrne, Acting-Commissioner of Police, Scott Tilyard, and Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Rhys Edwards.
Lara Giddings Premier Tuesday 08th Jan 2013