❓ Question regarding Minister Johnson's performance in relation to the Keelty Report recommendations on the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA). Premier Barnett defends the Minister and contrasts his government's action on the Keelty Report with the previous Labor government's inaction on a 2006 report.
AnsweredQoN 552Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KEELTY REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS — FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AUTHORITY COMMITTEE
I ask a supplementary question. Is this responsibility not one that the Premier has conferred on Minister Johnson for the past few years and in which he has been found lacking? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I ask a supplementary question. Is this responsibility not one that the Premier has conferred on Minister Johnson for the past few years and in which he has been found lacking? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
He has not been found lacking. We should just contrast this. This government had the Keelty report. We have accepted the recommendations. It is true that everyone found some aspects of the report quite shocking. They were surprised; it was a dramatic report, and the government took it on board. It went to cabinet. The only thing I will say about cabinet is that apart from people looking at the report, Mr Keelty provided a two-hour briefing to cabinet. Cabinet went through that report in fine detail. We should compare that with what the Labor Party did. Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: He has not been found lacking. We should just contrast this. This government had the Keelty report. We have accepted the recommendations. It is true that everyone found some aspects of the report quite shocking. They were surprised; it was a dramatic report, and the government took it on board. It went to cabinet. The only thing I will say about cabinet is that apart from people looking at the report, Mr Keelty provided a two-hour briefing to cabinet. Cabinet went through that report in fine detail. We should compare that with what the Labor Party did. Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
He has not been found lacking. We should just contrast this. This government had the Keelty report. We have accepted the recommendations. It is true that everyone found some aspects of the report quite shocking. They were surprised; it was a dramatic report, and the government took it on board. It went to cabinet. The only thing I will say about cabinet is that apart from people looking at the report, Mr Keelty provided a two-hour briefing to cabinet. Cabinet went through that report in fine detail. We should compare that with what the Labor Party did. Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: He has not been found lacking. We should just contrast this. This government had the Keelty report. We have accepted the recommendations. It is true that everyone found some aspects of the report quite shocking. They were surprised; it was a dramatic report, and the government took it on board. It went to cabinet. The only thing I will say about cabinet is that apart from people looking at the report, Mr Keelty provided a two-hour briefing to cabinet. Cabinet went through that report in fine detail. We should compare that with what the Labor Party did. Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
He has not been found lacking. We should just contrast this. This government had the Keelty report. We have accepted the recommendations. It is true that everyone found some aspects of the report quite shocking. They were surprised; it was a dramatic report, and the government took it on board. It went to cabinet. The only thing I will say about cabinet is that apart from people looking at the report, Mr Keelty provided a two-hour briefing to cabinet. Cabinet went through that report in fine detail. We should compare that with what the Labor Party did. Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : If you read any of the agency responses, you might have known what questions to ask him. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member should not be so sensitive. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Suddenly they are all barking. Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Why don’t you talk about refugees? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Let us compare it. This government took the Keelty report. We accepted it. We did not try to compromise it, influence it or change it. We accepted it as it was, it went to cabinet and we are now acting upon it. We should compare that with what happened in 2006 when the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee reported on the emergency services legislation. Recommendation 60 stated — · That the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Minister for Public Sector Management consider whether a review is warranted regarding FESA remaining as a statutory authority or re-structuring as a department. The response of the then Labor government, as Hon John Kobelke informed Parliament, was that, in time, it would provide its response once it had had feedback from FESA. The fact is that the Labor government never provided its response. It was a 2006 report, and the former government did not even respond to the committee report. It totally ignored it and it totally ignored a recommendation that FESA be restructured. What has this government done? It received the report from Mick Keelty, made the decision to — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members of the opposition do not like it. They totally ignored the 2006 report. They did not even give the Parliament or the committee the courtesy of a response in any shape or form. In contrast, this government took the report, accepted its recommendation and took it seriously. We are in the process of drafting legislation to create a structure similar to a police commissioner. We are in the process of making a substantive appointment to head up FESA for a 12-month period. We have been getting on with the job in a matter of a couple of weeks, compared with the Labor Party which did not even respond to 88 recommendations after two years. Its members did not get off their backsides and do a thing.
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