Former Victorian Chief Fire Officer, East Gippsland local, Ewan Waller, has called for an urgent national approach to fighting bushfires, labelling the three most recent bushfire inquiries conservative and inadequate.
“Bushfire is now a national issue and it’s got to be approached that way,” he said.
“What we need is really strong direction and policy, built largely around prevention, not response,” said Mr Waller, who has more than 40 years’ experience as a forester.
“What we wanted was table-thumping national direction and agreement on fire management, but we did not get it – just housekeeping and the status quo. Better communications, better equipment, will make a difference, but not the big difference we are looking for.”
Mr Waller, who lives near Dargo, was giving an address via Zoom yesterday to the national conference of the Institute of Foresters of Australia/Australian Forest Growers in Launceston.