THE Black Saturday Kinglake-Kilmore East Bushfire class action trial will start on Monday, 4 March in the Supreme Court in Melbourne.
The action against SPI Electricity and four other entities covers people in fire-affected communities including Steels Creek, Dixons Creek, Yarra Glen, Tarrawarra, Toolangi, Christmas Hills, Castella and Kinglake.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers who are conducting the case on behalf of the class action members last week announced that access to the entire trial would be available to group members involved in the action and to their immediate families through live streaming from the court.
Maurice Blackburn Senior Associate Rory Walsh applauded the decision by Justice Jack Forrest to allow live streaming, saying it would provide affordable access to the trial for those being represented, particularly in view of the fact that many of the fire-affected communities were a considerable distance from Melbourne.
He estimated that about 10,000 people would have access via a password.
Just how many people will take up that option however, is not clear with the response to the Mail’s enquiries in the Yarra Valley communities revealing the class action is regarded by many as a private matter.
Steels Creek community leader Malcolm Calder said it was not a topic of conversation, even between good mates.
“While individuals may be watching intently, it is sort of a private matter,” he said.
Mike Baimbridge, a pastor at Yarra Glen’s Heartland Church agreed it wasn’t something people were talking about.
Pastor Baimbridge has supported a number of families in and around bushfire recovery over the past four years.
On the question of whether having access to the trial would be beneficial, he said it was a decision for each individual to make.
“On the one hand there are people who are still quite openly bitter about what has happened to them and see it as an injustice that someone needs to pay for, and others have moved on and don’t want to keep re-living it,” he said.
“Others are not so sure; they are still in need and may benefit from getting some funds to help them along, but are not of the view that someone has to pay for them.”
“Some may cope, others won’t,” he said, adding that it might also depend on their experiences on the day.
The class action involves suing SPI Electricity Pty Ltd, Utility Services Corporation Ltd (USC), the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the State of Victoria.
All defendants deny allegations against them and are defending the class action.
