ID :
128774
Sun, 06/20/2010 - 08:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/128774
The shortlink copeid
HUNDREDS SIGN UP FOR CLASS ACTION AGAINST SINGAPORE POWER
From Neville D'Cruz
MELBOURNE, June 19 (Bernama) -- Hundreds of Black Saturday bushfire victims signed up for a class action against a Singapore electricity supplier they allege was responsible for a blaze that killed 121 people and destroyed 1,244 homes.
Lawyers Maurice Blackburn lodged a statement of claim in the Victorian
Supreme Court Friday against Singapore Power International for inadequate
maintenance standards that led to the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire, the
Australian Associated Press reports.
The action alleged the power company failed to fit a A$10 protective device,
called a vibration damper on the power line which contributed to it breaking
and starting the devastating fire in Kilmore East about 40km from here.
In a statement released on Saturday, Maurice Blackburn Chairman Bernard
Murphy said there was evidence at the Royal Commission into the fires that
Singapore Power could have taken steps to prevent the Kilmore East-Kinglake
blaze.
Maurice Blackburn also alleged Singapore Power failed to properly inspect
and maintain the 43-year-old powerline which stretched across a valley in a
recognised high bushfire risk area and failed to have an adequate system of
replacing old powerlines before they break.
"In November last year, the royal commission heard that the powerline that
ignited the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire was not fitted with a vibration
damper as a result of Singapore Powers's policy not to fit them to existing
powerlines, although they are much more likely to break than new ones,"
Murphy said.
He said electricity distribution companies were commercial enterprises that
had a responsibility to ensure public safety was not compromise simply in order
to keep costs down.
"Singapore Power's failure has had a very tragic consequence," he said.
He said more than 1,300 people who suffered injury, loss or damage as a
result of Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire had registered their interest in the
class action with in excess of 600 signing up.
-- BERNAMA
MELBOURNE, June 19 (Bernama) -- Hundreds of Black Saturday bushfire victims signed up for a class action against a Singapore electricity supplier they allege was responsible for a blaze that killed 121 people and destroyed 1,244 homes.
Lawyers Maurice Blackburn lodged a statement of claim in the Victorian
Supreme Court Friday against Singapore Power International for inadequate
maintenance standards that led to the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire, the
Australian Associated Press reports.
The action alleged the power company failed to fit a A$10 protective device,
called a vibration damper on the power line which contributed to it breaking
and starting the devastating fire in Kilmore East about 40km from here.
In a statement released on Saturday, Maurice Blackburn Chairman Bernard
Murphy said there was evidence at the Royal Commission into the fires that
Singapore Power could have taken steps to prevent the Kilmore East-Kinglake
blaze.
Maurice Blackburn also alleged Singapore Power failed to properly inspect
and maintain the 43-year-old powerline which stretched across a valley in a
recognised high bushfire risk area and failed to have an adequate system of
replacing old powerlines before they break.
"In November last year, the royal commission heard that the powerline that
ignited the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire was not fitted with a vibration
damper as a result of Singapore Powers's policy not to fit them to existing
powerlines, although they are much more likely to break than new ones,"
Murphy said.
He said electricity distribution companies were commercial enterprises that
had a responsibility to ensure public safety was not compromise simply in order
to keep costs down.
"Singapore Power's failure has had a very tragic consequence," he said.
He said more than 1,300 people who suffered injury, loss or damage as a
result of Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire had registered their interest in the
class action with in excess of 600 signing up.
-- BERNAMA
