'Tragedy and triumph': Turnbull pays tribute to Victoria's Christmas Day firefighters
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Version 0 of 1. Malcolm Turnbull has paid tribute to volunteer firefighters who battled a Christmas Day blaze in Victoria, saying the incident represented both a “tragedy and a triumph” due to the volunteers’ efforts in saving lives. Related: Cost of property losses from Victorian bushfires is expected to top $40m The prime minister toured the fire-ravaged towns of Wye River and Separation Creek on Tuesday. He was joined by the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, and the federal member representing the region, Sarah Henderson. About 116 properties – more than a third of residences in the Great Ocean Road settlements – were destroyed by the fire, but no lives were lost. Turnbull praised the Country Fire Authority for its efforts in preventing casualties. “That is a huge loss but no lives and that’s a tribute to you,” Turnbull told volunteers in the region. “You’d expect there to be loss of life to have so many properties destroyed. So you’re lifesavers. “There’s both tragedy and triumph here and it’s only human to focus on the tragedy, on the loss, but there is a real triumph in the way this community has managed this natural disaster,” the prime minister said. “You’ve managed it in a way that has been so successful in terms of protecting the men and women of your community. So well done. Related: When a bushfire destroyed our home we had moments to react but needed years to recover | Ashleigh Davis “The communities right around Australia will be stronger because of what you’ve done,” he said. “This community had the courage and the wisdom – not just heroics – the wisdom, to plan well in advance, to put in place the preparations that ensured that they were able to succeed in saving all the lives in this community.” The volunteers told the prime minister they hoped the rest of the country could learn from its fire management strategy. “This has been a great example, a case study, if you like, of how triumph through good planning, through leadership, through courage, professionalism, coordination, between the state government, between the emergency management services,” Turnbull said. “It is really a great example that I hope many others will learn from, and I know the premier is keen to ensure that they do.” Tony Maley, a firefighter who lost his own home in the blaze, said he hoped the country was implementing the same plans Wye River had. Residents who lost their homes will be eligible for state and commonwealth assistance through the natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements. They will be able to access up to $1,300 per household for immediate needs such as food and shelter, and a further $32,500 over time for cleaning up and rebuilding their primary residence. Andrews told reporters that dozens of residents have already applied for the $1,300 emergency funding. “There’s nearly 50 of those payments that have been made and we anticipate there will be more people who will make application for that important funding,” the Victorian premier said. He rejected suggestions that people who are insured will not be able to access the long-term $32,500 payment. “That doesn’t relate to issues of insurance. This is a payment that is for those who have lost a principal place of residence and, having registered, as I think all of those who have lost their home have done, they’ll be able to be processed, they’ll get the care and support that they need,” Andrews said. Families will also receive assistance to help them access psychological and financial counselling, and business payments are also available for those whose livelihoods have been impacted. The Australian Banks Association on Tuesday announced assistance packages for Great Ocean Road communities, including suspending payments on home loans and credit cards, emergency credit limit increases and the waiving of fees associated with business loan restructuring. “We encourage customers and businesses affected by the bushfires to contact their bank to see what support is available. The type of assistance offered will depend on each customer’s circumstances and needs,” the chief executive of the association, Steven Münchenberg, said. The cost of the bushfires is expected to exceed $40m. Andrews said he hopes sections of the Great Ocean Road which are closed due to fire damage will open next week. The region is dependent on income from tourists, and the closure of the road has taken a hit on the local economy. “It is important to remembert hat this is, as we know, such a beautiful part of Victoria, such a beautiful part of Australia,” Turnbull said. “These caravan parks should fill up again. This beach should fill up again. The pubs should fill up again. We need people back here supporting the community.” |