Opened the debate
McKim acknowledged the danger faced by residents and firefighters in areas such as Zeehan and Corinna. McKim emphasised the catastrophic impact on World Heritage-listed ecological communities in the Tarkine region, specifically noting the loss of ancient Huon pine groves. McKim stated that a 3,000-year-old Huon pine, previously the largest known specimen, had been destroyed. McKim attributed the increased frequency of dry lightning strikes to climate change, citing 1,227 strikes recorded on 3 February 2025. The senator argued that existing technology for detecting lightning was not matched by adequate aerial and ground firefighting resources. McKim claimed that recommendations from a 2016 Senate inquiry into wildfires had been ignored by both federal and state governments. McKim asserted that early intervention strategies were not deployed effectively in the current emergency.