❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier on extending PTSD presumptive protections to emergency services volunteers, similar to those recently granted to career firefighters. The Premier acknowledges volunteers' contributions but expresses reservations due to the nature of volunteering and the scale of implementation.
AnsweredQoN 316Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES — VOLUNTEERS —
PTSD PRESUMPTION
316. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
Before I ask this question, I would
like to acknowledge the State Emergency Service volunteers across the state on
Wear Orange Wednesday.
I refer to the government's
recent extension of PTSD presumptive protections for career firefighters.
Noting the reliance of our state on the hard work and sacrifice of volunteers
in terms of emergency and disaster and their current ineligibility for cover,
will the Premier commit to extending equivalent protections to volunteers?
PTSD PRESUMPTION
316. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
Before I ask this question, I would
like to acknowledge the State Emergency Service volunteers across the state on
Wear Orange Wednesday.
I refer to the government's
recent extension of PTSD presumptive protections for career firefighters.
Noting the reliance of our state on the hard work and sacrifice of volunteers
in terms of emergency and disaster and their current ineligibility for cover,
will the Premier commit to extending equivalent protections to volunteers?
AnswerView source ↗
Permanent
Department of Fire and Emergency Services personnel—the first
responders—and I think the people who receive the 000 calls will
now be eligible for that presumptive PTSD coverage. That is a change we have
made. I think it reflects what occurs in
some other states and the nature of the role of a lot of these people whose job
it is to undertake that work. That is a good thing. It is interesting that
you do a good thing and then the first question is: why did you not do
something else? That seems to be the nature of things.
I think there are 28 000 or 30 000
State Emergency Service and other volunteers out there, and a range of others. I am not aware of any other jurisdiction that has
undertaken that, in terms of the scale of it. The nature of volunteering is generally that you do not receive that coverage because you are a volunteer.
When the opposition was in office, there was some extension of some presumptive
coverage for some forms of cancer, as I recall, for some emergency services
workers. I do not recall it being extended to the volunteer workforce.
Volunteers are out there, they do a wonderful job and we are very appreciative
of all the work they do, but, by nature, they are volunteers.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services personnel—the first
responders—and I think the people who receive the 000 calls will
now be eligible for that presumptive PTSD coverage. That is a change we have
made. I think it reflects what occurs in
some other states and the nature of the role of a lot of these people whose job
it is to undertake that work. That is a good thing. It is interesting that
you do a good thing and then the first question is: why did you not do
something else? That seems to be the nature of things.
I think there are 28 000 or 30 000
State Emergency Service and other volunteers out there, and a range of others. I am not aware of any other jurisdiction that has
undertaken that, in terms of the scale of it. The nature of volunteering is generally that you do not receive that coverage because you are a volunteer.
When the opposition was in office, there was some extension of some presumptive
coverage for some forms of cancer, as I recall, for some emergency services
workers. I do not recall it being extended to the volunteer workforce.
Volunteers are out there, they do a wonderful job and we are very appreciative
of all the work they do, but, by nature, they are volunteers.
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