I think people know that we don’t take steps lightly.
I think people know that we issue advice because our experts, the fire modelling, the bureau, conditions on the ground… This is not a step that is taken lightly.
It is a very serious thing to do.
It was recommended after the Black Saturday inquiry.
That royal commission said we needed this power. This is only the second time we’ve used it.
So once a week ago and extending it now. I think that any risk, as you outlined, [declaring a state of disaster even if conditions don’t turn out to be that bad] is one that’s worth taking because this is about keeping people safe, saving lives and making sure that the job of emergency services is just that little bit easier.
I think this is exactly the decision to make and that’s why I took that decision the other week and why we are extending the state of disaster for another 48 hours.