Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:18): (1320) My question is to the Minister for Environment. Forest fire management staff are essential to bushfire mitigation, delivering and supervising the ground-based fuel reduction work that enables contractors to do their vital work and operate and mitigate bushfire risk for communities and the environment. Minister, what assurance can you give that no regionally based forest fire management jobs will be cut this year?
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:20): Thank you, Minister. I note in that response you actually did not answer the question. You did not give an assurance that no regionally based forest jobs would be cut. Minister, given you failed to give that assurance and given you failed to give that guarantee, how will vital winter fuel reduction and forest management work be delivered if the frontline workforce is undermined?