Australian Capital Territory
Emergencies (Bushfire Council Members) Appointment 2016 (No 3)
Disallowable instrument DI2016–216
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 re-appoints Christine Goonrey, Tony Bartlett, and Andrew Joyce, as Members of the Bushfire Council. The re-appointments commence on 1 October 2016 and expire on 30 September 2017.

Christine Goonrey has been a member of the ACT Bushfire Council since 2009. She has a wealth of experience in relation to conservation issues, having served in leadership roles with the National Parks Australia Council, the Conservation Council of the ACT Region and the National Parks Association of the ACT. She keeps abreast of current thinking on environmentally sustainable fire management, and on research and development in relation to innovative and effective fire management strategies that lead to a better understanding of the role of fire in the landscape.

Tony Bartlett has worked in forestry and natural resources management for more than 35 years, in Victoria, Nepal, Vanuatu, and the ACT and with the Australian Government. He has extensive experience in the management of native forests and plantations as well as in forest fire management. He was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2006 and has been a firefighter since 1973. He has been a Regional Fire Protection Officer in eastern Victoria, a Deputy Chief Fire Control Officer in the ACT, and he is an experienced Level 3 Incident Controller. From 1999 to mid 2005, he was the Director of ACT Forests and in that role he had significant leadership roles in the 2001 and 2003 bushfires. He has co-authored a number of articles on mega-fires and fire management in plantations.

Andrew Joyce has over 25 years experience as a volunteer firefighter in Victoria and the ACT. He was awarded the ACT Rural Fire Service Long Service Medal in 2013 and the National Medal in 2005. He has strong information networks that can draw upon knowledge from across a number of fire services as well as the ACT Rural Fire Service. He has extensive experience in developing and advising government on strategic policy, risk management and funding in a range of areas.

Christine Goonrey, Tony Bartlett, and Andrew Joyce are not public servants as defined under the Legislation Act 2001.

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