❓ A member of parliament questions the Minister for Emergency Services about increasing response times for fire and emergency services. The Minister acknowledges the issue but provides a non-committal response, highlighting his recent appointment and the existing emergency services levy.
AnsweredQoN 255Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Resource allocations to fire and emergency services are stretched to the limit. Response times to fires and emergencies have gone from seven to 13 minutes on average. Given the Australian standard set by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council is nine minutes, I ask - (1) Why has this situation arisen? (2) Will the minister reassure the people of Western Australia that we still have a prompt firefighting service in Western Australia? (3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
Resource allocations to fire and emergency services are stretched to the limit. Response times to fires and emergencies have gone from seven to 13 minutes on average. Given the Australian standard set by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council is nine minutes, I ask - (1) Why has this situation arisen? (2) Will the minister reassure the people of Western Australia that we still have a prompt firefighting service in Western Australia? (3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(1) Why has this situation arisen? (2) Will the minister reassure the people of Western Australia that we still have a prompt firefighting service in Western Australia? (3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(2) Will the minister reassure the people of Western Australia that we still have a prompt firefighting service in Western Australia? (3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(1) Why has this situation arisen? (2) Will the minister reassure the people of Western Australia that we still have a prompt firefighting service in Western Australia? (3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(2) Will the minister reassure the people of Western Australia that we still have a prompt firefighting service in Western Australia? (3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(3) What strategy has the government put in place to rectify this unacceptable situation? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
(1)-(3) I am pleased that the member would think that after four days in the portfolio, I would be able to provide that detail. In those four days I have certainly confirmed for myself the quality of the people we have working in a whole range of fire and emergency services, including the volunteers. I am also aware that the changes this government has made with the emergency services levy mean that these services are better funded. Governments have considered such a levy for well over a decade, but it has now been implemented. The means of providing resources through an appropriate and properly funding mechanism is now in place. Given that we have very good people working in these services, I look forward to the challenge of ensuring that they continue to receive those resources and the policy guidance to make sure that they can build on the very good service, so that as additional challenges arise, they will be fully and properly met. The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
The SPEAKER : Question time has now finished. I congratulate all concerned. We have managed to get through 10 questions. Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.