Fires class action

By Kath Gannaway
AS THE Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission continues in Melbourne, a class action in relation to the Kilmore East-Kinglake fires has been lodged with the Supreme Court.
Meetings to be held at Flowerdale and Yarra Glen will provide information on the class action for residents who suffered property loss, or who lost loved-ones in the fires, in areas including Kinglake, Flowerdale, Steels Creek, Dixons Creek and Toolangi.
Legal firm Maurice Blackburn working with Slidders Lawyers, the firm which initiated the action a week after the fires, have alleged in the Supreme Court that a powerline owned by Singapore-based multi-national power company SP AusNet caused the fire and that the company had failed to maintain and properly operate the line.
The case will be led by Bernard Murphy, chairman of Maurice Blackburn, and, coincidentally, a former dux of Healesville High School.
Mr Murphy is senior principal of the company’s major projects department, which is Australia’s largest class action legal practice.
Mr Murphy told the Mail they had sought leave to appear before the Bushfires Royal Commission.
He said the commission would start looking at the cause of the fire around August.
“We want to be there for those people who lived in those areas and who suffered serious property loss or damage, and loss of life, cross-examining the power company and making sure the truth comes out,” he said.
He said around 300 people had already registered as part of the class action which would be run on a ‘no win – no charge’ basis. The meetings, at 6.30pm at Flowerdale on Thursday, 28 May, and at Yarra Valley Racing Centre in Yarra Glen on Thursday, 4 June, will provide people with the opportunity to obtain information on the class action and speak to a loss adjuster.
Mr Murphy said people would not be asked to sign or commit to any course of action on the night.
Information on the meetings, or the class action, is available on 1800 99 55 70 or email to bushfireca@mauriceblackburn.com.au