“Many people in the Toodyay community will be heartened by this finding. There has been considerable and widespread discussion about whether a power pole carrying a high voltage conductor fell and started the fire. Energy Safety, in their independent report has found this to be the case.”
 

Mr Woodhams said that he had been to Toodyay on numerous occasions since the fire, and had received considerable criticism for not being more active in trying to resolve the issues surrounding its cause.
 

“I accept that criticism. People have a right to be frustrated by what they perceive as my apparent lack of engagement in this process. However I have been continually endorsing this independent public inquiry. The attitude by some sections of Western Power has not helped. All I can state is that this is the most important issue I have dealt with this year. The government knows that and hopefully as I continue to visit Toodyay I can prove that.”
 

Mr Woodhams said the next logical step would be for the government to negotiate with those who lost property and were insured for such an event. He said it will be far more complex to achieve a satisfactory outcome for those who were uninsured.
 

“The Toodyay community has been fantastically strong and supportive of those who suffered as a consequence of the fire. I will be urging the government to make Western Power accept responsibility for their part in the cause of the fire. This is not a process which needs to end up in court battles over insurance and liability. This is a process in which people need to have their government stand up for them.”