Australian Capital Territory
Emergencies (Bushfire Council Members) Appointment 2015 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2015–275
made under the  
Emergencies Act 2004, s 129 (Bushfire council members)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Bushfire Council, established under section 127 of the Emergencies Act 2004, has the function of advising the Minister about matters relating to bushfires.

Under section 129 (1) of the Emergencies Act 2004 the Minister must appoint members of the Bushfire Council. Under section 129 (2) the Minister must try to ensure that people with particular skills, interests and experience are among the members appointed. The appointments are made according to these requirements.

The instrument appoints Ms Natarsha Carney, Mr Mick George, Ms Sandra Lauer and Dr Sarah Ryan as Members of the Bushfire Council. The appointment commences on the day after notification and expires on 30 September 2017.

Ms Natarsha Carey
Ms Natarsha Carney has been a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service for over five years and holds a Certificate II in Public Safety and is specialised in Aerial Fire-fighting.  Ms Carney holds a Bachelor of Marine Science and Management (UNE), Masters in Environmental Science (UNE) and Graduate Certificate in Public Administration (UC). Ms Carney is an Aboriginal woman from the Wiradjuri nation and has undertaken courses in Indigenous land management and fire management regimes for the purposes of both biodiversity and natural regeneration.  Ms Carney was involved with a study undertaken by the Bushfire CRC into fire fighter safety and sleep patterns while on deployment and is currently employed at the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture. 

Mr Mick George
Mr Mick George has a Bachelor of Science and a professional background in forestry and natural resource management. Mr Mick George is a NSW rural property owner, volunteer member of the Gungahlin Brigade of the ACT Rural Fire Service, and is an advanced firefighter specialised in remote area fire-fighting. Mr George has previously been involved with a number of Australian Government international climate change programs and one of these intersected with prescribed burning and indigenous customary burning practices.  Mr George has previously been involved with national policy forums developing national bushfire policy whilst working in the Department of Agriculture.

Ms Sandra Lauer
Ms Sandra Lauer has a Bachelor of Arts/Economics (ANU), Masters in Geographical Science (ANU) and a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Ms Lauer is an ACT small business owner and ACT residential property owner. Ms Lauer owns a rural property in Michelago NSW and is a volunteer with the NSW Colinton Rural Fire Brigade.  Ms Lauer has undertaken an historical investigation of the Monaro, South Eastern NSW and of fire management throughout Australia, with an emphasis on NSW.  Ms Lauer is involved with cross border bushfire training activities involving NSW and ACT and currently undertaking a PhD into the changing functions of Rural Fire Service brigades in NSW.  

Dr Sarah Ryan
Dr Sarah Ryan has a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) Honors Class 1 (UWA), a Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (DU) and a PhD in Agriculture (UWA). Sarah Ryan is currently the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Canberra and has extensive experience in natural resource management having previously been employed with CSIRO for over 25 years.  Dr Ryan has an understanding of the ACT Government planning processes and was the foundation chair of the ACT Natural Resource Management Council (NRMC) and has served for over 8 years on the NRMC.    Dr Ryan has previously served on a number of ministerially appointed advisory bodies including NRMC, CIT and Public Education.

Ms Natarsha Carney, Mr Mick George, Ms Sandra Lauer and Dr Sarah Ryan are not public servants as defined under the Legislation Act 2001.

The Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety has been consulted on the appointments as required under the provisions of the Legislation Act 2001. The Committee advised that it had no concerns with the appointments.