Peter Rundle slams energy minister for ‘lack of transparency’ in Wagin-West Arthur bushfire investigation

Nearly a year on from a devastating bushfire that razed 11,000ha of farmland and destroyed three homes, Roe MLA Peter Rundle has lashed the State Government for failing to publicise reports regarding its cause. The Nationals WA deputy leader accused the Cook Government of lacking transparency regarding the January 24 bushfire in Parliament last week, questioning Minister for Energy Amber-Jade Sanderson when the cause of the fire would be made public. The 11,000ha blaze started in the Shire of West Arthur and spread 23km through the Shire of Wagin, tearing through three homes, road reserves, sheds, farmland, equipment and killing hundreds of livestock. Staff from Western Power and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services scoured the scene in the days after, and an investigation was started by the Building and Energy office within the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. Witnesses have claimed the fire was sparked by faulty powerlines. Mr Rundle said department officers had interviewed Wagin community members as part of the investigation, but informed the Shire of Wagin that an incident report would not be publicised. Mr Rundle said the report would help communities understand the cause and mitigate dangerous fires for the future fire season and called on Minister Sanderson to advocate for a public report and infrastructure improvements. “While I’m glad a thorough investigation is under way, I would like any causes, conclusions and recommendations following this investigation to be made publicly available as soon as possible to help plan against incidents like this in the future,” he said. “Regardless of whether the fire was started by faulty Western Power infrastructure, I would like the minister to work with the community of Wagin and Arthur River to reassure them that Western Power infrastructure is maintained and safe heading into this fire season. “Prosecution of Western Power places the blame but does not lead to improvements in planning for wildfires caused by Western Power infrastructure.” Mr Rundle referenced the February 2022 bushfire that devastated 18,000ha of land in Narrogin and Wickepin, sparked by Western Power’s high-voltage overhead conductors clashing between two power poles, and the 2015 Esperance fire that claimed four lives. He said it took the Government three years to agree to implement recommendations from the Coroner’s inquest into the Esperance blaze. “I don’t want to see the delays and disappointments that faced the communities of Esperance, Narrogin and Wickepin, happen to the Wagin community,” he said. “The minister can do more to improve transparency and give information to affected landholders and shires to prevent this type of event in the future.” He said, despite faulty powerlines not having officially been deemed the cause, the community wanted reassurance that Western Power infrastructure would be well-maintained heading into the fire season. “The Labor Government need to do more to keep our regional communities safe and well-prepared during this and every fire season,” he said. A State Government spokesman said $10 million had been spent on Western Power network maintenance for the shires of Wagin and West Arthur since 2024, including replacing poles, overhead powerlines, crossarms, insulators, transformers, protection devices and streetlights. “The Cook Government understands that residents of Wagin and West Arthur want to know the cause of the fire,” he said. “That will be determined by the independent investigators from the office of Building and Energy, who met the Shire of Wagin recently.” The spokesman said $9.5m had been granted to local governments for on-ground works since the Esperance fire. Western Power said there were more than 100 pole-top fires on the same weekend as the January 24 fire. Pole-top fires can occur during light drizzling rain or misty damp conditions when a combination of recent dust and pollution builds up to create paths or “tracks” on the insulators, enabling electricity to jump across.