Call for inquiry into power companies after St Patrick's Day bushfires

He said the south-west had “dodged a huge bullet”, with no deaths from the devastating fires which claimed more than 15,000 hectares of land, 24 homes, 57 farm sheds or dairies and thousands of livestock. 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull toured the fire affected region on Sunday with Mr Tehan. 

After 252 fires in the past two years in Victoria due to electrical assets, Mr Tehan said it was time for something to be done. The Gazette, Terang, Garvoc and Camperdown fires on Saturday night all started due to electrical assets. 

Mr Tehan said the recommendations from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission after Black Saturday had not been followed through. 

“What we are seeing is that these recommendations are being implemented for a short period of time and then they are going by the wayside, they are being let go,” he said.

Mr Tehan said he told Prime Minister to “look at the roadsides and look at the power assets” during their tour. 

“The job isn’t being done properly,” he said.

“I will be asking questions. My hope is that there will be an inquiry into what has happened. What we need to see in that inquiry is what has happened to the implementation of the royal commission recommendations.

“As we have seen in terms of loss of life we have dodged a huge bullet in these fires, but we have seen devastation in many other ways.”

Mr Tehan said “in a perfect instance we wouldn’t need an inquiry”.

“The state government would just go back and say all of those recommendations would be fully implemented,” he said.

“But if they want to get the evidence, then let’s do it properly.

“Once again it will show quite clearly that those recommendations aren’t being implemented as they should be, so one way or another we need to get action.”

Mr Turnbull praised the efforts of firefighters, and said the fire-affected communities had shown the ultimate in strength and resilience.

He said he was proud to be the Prime Minister of a nation which had “such heroes” as the CFA firefighters.

“You show the very best of Australia here,” he said.

“When mother nature throws her worst at us time and time again, it brings out the solidarity, the love, the community spirit and the resilience of Australians again and again.

“You make us so proud. Thank you so much. I am very proud, like Dan, to be a part of your community, just for the day.”

Mr Turnbull visited a burnt-out property at Ellingamite, where the Garvoc fire had ripped through a home.

“You see again the enormous force of the fire,” he said, as strong winds whipped across the charred landscape.

“We have been told about winds of up to 143 km/h. It sweeps all before it. It’s a tribute to the heroism and professionalism of the CFA and volunteers, and of course the whole community. People looked after themselves and their neighbours. Nature throws her worst at Australians, but it brings out the best in Australians.” 

Warrnambool Standard