A new national warning system to alert residents about the potential for ''catastrophic'' bushfires is set to be introduced, but the ACT Government has not made a decision whether to adopt the plan.
Victorian Premier John Brumby unveiled the six-stage warning system, to be triggered by an existing key fire index that calculates a range of factors contributing to major bushfires.
The NSW, Western Australian and South Australian governments have all supported the concept, but a spokesman for ACT Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell said yesterday that a decision would be announced next week.
''The ACT is working cooperatively with the national working group led by Victoria on bushfire warning systems, and will be making a detailed announcement about the ACT's position early next week,'' the spokesman said.
Read more in today's Canberra Times.