Dr WEBSTER (Canberra - House of Representatives) (1:45): Speaker, I rise to speak on our first sitting day of 2025 about bushfires burning across my electorate of Mallee.  Sadly, I have fires south of Kaniva and Nhill, and in Grampians National Park. The Little Desert National Park fire destroyed the Little Desert Nature Lodge, and there have been fires this week at Colignan and Ouyen.

Halls Gap small businesses were badly hit by bushfires forcing closure of the town during the peak tourism season, costing $13 million and a further $19 million in expected loss in Gross Regional Product.  I walked the deserted streets just before Christmas and it was surreal, like a ghost town.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton visited Halls Gap small business owners with me in January at my invitation along with Shadow Ministers Perin Davey and Dan Tehan.  

The community is well aware that the Prime Minister only did a flyover with the Premier of Victoria before Christmas.

With the Leader of the Opposition, I urge Australians to visit the Grampians to support a fire-ravaged local economy.