❓ Question regarding communication failures between FESA and WA Police during the Roleystone-Kelmscott bushfires and the Minister's awareness/response to the Police Commissioner's frustrations. The Minister's answer is evasive and deflects blame.
AnsweredQoN 510Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROLEYSTONE–KELMSCOTT BUSHFIRES — Fire and Emergency Services Authority–WA POLICE — COMMUNICATION
I refer to comments by the Commissioner of Police in response to delays in communication by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority on the day of the Roleystone–Kelmscott fire that, according to my notes, “I’m frustrated by it. I think we were all let down by the fact that the communication system didn’t work like it should have worked.” (1) When did the commissioner first make the minister aware of his frustrations? (2) Upon learning of these frustrations, what action did the minister take? (3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I refer to comments by the Commissioner of Police in response to delays in communication by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority on the day of the Roleystone–Kelmscott fire that, according to my notes, “I’m frustrated by it. I think we were all let down by the fact that the communication system didn’t work like it should have worked.” (1) When did the commissioner first make the minister aware of his frustrations? (2) Upon learning of these frustrations, what action did the minister take? (3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(1) When did the commissioner first make the minister aware of his frustrations? (2) Upon learning of these frustrations, what action did the minister take? (3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(2) Upon learning of these frustrations, what action did the minister take? (3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(1) When did the commissioner first make the minister aware of his frustrations? (2) Upon learning of these frustrations, what action did the minister take? (3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(2) Upon learning of these frustrations, what action did the minister take? (3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(3) Whose responsibility was it to ensure communication channels existed and were functioning properly on the day of these fires? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
(1)–(3) That is an interesting question. In relation to communications on the day between the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and police, that is normally done on an operational level with senior police officers; it does not necessarily involve the commissioner. The commissioner is normally involved when a recommendation comes from FESA to call a state emergency coordination group. That is what normally happens and that is what happened on the day. In relation to the other lack of communication, I am not quite sure what the commissioner meant by that and I have not had an opportunity to ask him. But I am telling the Deputy Leader of the Opposition what normally happens. Obviously, there were faults on the day, and errors of judgement were made by some of the individuals who were managing the fire; there is no doubt about that, and the Keelty report quite clearly illustrates that. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying — Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am not taking interjections from the Leader of the Opposition! I am answering — Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying you’ve never heard of these frustrations? The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : What I am saying — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what you’re implying. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Member, I think a lot of people were frustrated on the day that things did not go as they should have done. There were policies, guidelines and indeed principles that were not followed. It should have been declared. Quite obviously, from what Mick Keelty said, it was deemed as a level 3 incident by many people but it was not declared officially as level 3. Once a fire is declared as a level 3 incident, the commissioner must be informed. It is the commissioner on advice from FESA who would normally convene that special meeting in the evening. Now, that is what happened. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s the basic problem. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Now, that is what happened. I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
I just also say for the benefit of the house, and perhaps some of the media present might be interested, as the Premier said, I do not believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of that fire if the state emergency coordination group had met an hour or two earlier. It would not have saved one home, in my view. What normally happens — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : As I have said quite clearly, the state emergency coordination group very often meets the day after a serious fire. It does not always meet on the day of the fire. As I understand it, this was probably one of the quickest meetings between the ferocity of the fire and the meeting itself that has happened in many years—many years—so it would not have saved houses if it had met an hour or two earlier. The purpose of the state emergency coordination group is to assess where there have been problems, assess what gaps need to be filled to ensure that actions are taken in relation to — Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr F.M. Logan : At the time of the disaster, not after! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : In relation to ensuring that people have shelter, food and clothing and indeed — Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So were these communication problems raised at the meeting that you attended that night? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Leader of the Opposition can ask me a question if he wants to; I am answering the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s question now. That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
That is the purpose of those meetings. It is not to try to work out how best they can fight a fire, because all the agencies are involved—education is involved in case any schools are impacted by a fire. Therefore, we find that the directors general from most of those affected agencies are there. Western Power and the Water Authority are involved to try to ensure that all these essential services are put back as quickly as possible. That is the purpose of that group. It is not a tactical group on how best to fight the fire; that is done by the experts and our firefighters on the ground. I say once again that our firefighters—our career and volunteer firefighters and our bush fire brigades—did a fantastic job on the day. Quite frankly, the conditions on that day were so horrific—huge gusts of wind came out of nowhere at enormous speed, the ferocity of those winds, the heat on the day and the location—in a way, I am a bit surprised that some more homes were not damaged or destroyed. However, that is the purpose of the special coordination group that the member asked about, and that is the answer.
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