The Marshall Government this week passed legislation to ensure lives, homes, properties, crops and livestock are further protected during dangerous bushfire conditions.
The Fire and Emergency Services Miscellaneous Amendments Bill gives South Australia Police the power to direct grain growers to cease harvesting on days when weather conditions may cause a grass or bushfire.
The amendments were passed following recommendations from a bipartisan select committee that looked at whether legislation around power to direct was needed and if so who should be responsible for enforcing it.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Corey Wingard, said the historic legislation is years in the making.
“This issue was first raised back in 2013 when the Hon. Paul Holloway undertook a review of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 and flagged the need for a power to direct,” the Minister said.
“Labor put that recommendation in the too hard basket for years. The Marshall Government has got on with the job and we’re pleased to finally have delivered a really important piece of potentially life-saving legislation.
“Before this year’s bushfire season, SAPOL officers will work closely with the CFS to develop an operational model to make this legislation work.
“Considering a majority of our farmers do the right thing, these powers shouldn’t be needed. But in the event they are, both SAPOL and the CFS will work closely together with SAPOL having the ultimate power to direct those doing the wrong thing to stop.
“This is just another example of how this State government is equipping our emergency services with vital tools to keep South Australians safe.”
Chief Executive of Grain Producers SA Caroline Rhodes thanked the State Government for the level of consultation during the process.
“No grain grower wants to be the source of a fire which causes devastation in the region and that’s why the industry has a Grain Harvesting Code of Practice,” Ms Rhodes said.
“Grain growers are extremely aware of the risks but this adds another layer of protection during dangerous weather periods.”
