❓ Ms. Warr questions the Minister for Emergency Services about delays in providing emergency rescue helicopter services to regional communities and the decision-making process for helicopter deployment. The Minister defends the government's position, highlighting existing capabilities and reliance on expert advice.
AnsweredQoN 334Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Planning—Review of planning instruments
334. Ms Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Emergency Services:
It is my privilege.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I refer to comments on ABC radio this morning by Department
of Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Gifford, who
confirmed that the contract with provider CHC Helicopters allows for additional
emergency rescue helicopter services to be added if the government considers it
necessary.
(1) Why is the minister leaving regional
communities such as Geraldton and the Mid West waiting years for services that
will save lives?
(2) Why is the government leaving the minister's
private contractor to decide where these helicopters are based instead of
acting on the expert advice of the Chief Health Officer and his very own
department with recommendations to double the helicopter fleet?
334. Ms Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Emergency Services:
It is my privilege.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I refer to comments on ABC radio this morning by Department
of Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Gifford, who
confirmed that the contract with provider CHC Helicopters allows for additional
emergency rescue helicopter services to be added if the government considers it
necessary.
(1) Why is the minister leaving regional
communities such as Geraldton and the Mid West waiting years for services that
will save lives?
(2) Why is the government leaving the minister's
private contractor to decide where these helicopters are based instead of
acting on the expert advice of the Chief Health Officer and his very own
department with recommendations to double the helicopter fleet?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I am sorry, I missed that no doubt
riveting contribution on the radio this morning. I was in the house dealing
with many of the member's side of politics talking about the banned drinkers
register as part of the liquor amendment legislation passing through the house.
That aside, in the very brief quote
or reference that the member has given me, it sounds as though the DFES officer
in question was in furious agreement with me, which is exactly what I said
yesterday. They seem to have said exactly what I said yesterday. In the event
that there is an additional demand in any part of the state, let alone in the
Mid West, there are now world-class Italian-designed Leonardo AW169s—stylish
helicopters—available, with world-class crews.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: They are available. There are not
just two; there are three airframes, which provides additional support in the
event of an aircraft going offline for maintenance or urgent repair or some
other demand, but also clearly there is the ability, in the event that it is
required, to boost coverage in any location in the state.
What I said
yesterday remains absolutely true and unchanged. What the member just said does
not in any way contradict what I said.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Paul Papalia: The operators advise government as to
how they should deploy capability.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: If it comes to the member for
Geraldton driving operational response—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister!
Mr Paul Papalia: —firstly, she is going to get
very tired, because there is a lot of demand for decision-making going on at
any one time.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister for Emergency Services!
Mr Paul Papalia: Secondly—
The Speaker: Minister! Just wait two seconds, please.
Member for Central
Wheatbelt, you are not helping. You are engaging and interrupting and
interjecting far too much. Please stop. Thank you.
Mr Paul Papalia: Mr Speaker, having not responded to
the interjection, I am sure it is not being recorded, so for the rest of the
world, they are not hearing it. I know it is annoying for you, but do not
worry. If we just ignore him, he does not exist.
The point is the
member is not a specialist. The member is not knowledgeable enough to be
advising the government or DFES—
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: The member for Geraldton is not
knowledgeable enough to be advising the government or DFES as to where or how
to deploy their helicopters. Neither am I. That is why I am not going to tell
them. However, we have the capacity and we have the world-class capability. In
the event that there is a requirement to surge a
capability in any part of the state to ensure that there is additional coverage
for a perceived greater demand, the operators no doubt will advise us and deploy
the aircraft accordingly.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Just before I give the member her supplementary,
if members of her party could cut it back, that would be appreciated.
riveting contribution on the radio this morning. I was in the house dealing
with many of the member's side of politics talking about the banned drinkers
register as part of the liquor amendment legislation passing through the house.
That aside, in the very brief quote
or reference that the member has given me, it sounds as though the DFES officer
in question was in furious agreement with me, which is exactly what I said
yesterday. They seem to have said exactly what I said yesterday. In the event
that there is an additional demand in any part of the state, let alone in the
Mid West, there are now world-class Italian-designed Leonardo AW169s—stylish
helicopters—available, with world-class crews.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: They are available. There are not
just two; there are three airframes, which provides additional support in the
event of an aircraft going offline for maintenance or urgent repair or some
other demand, but also clearly there is the ability, in the event that it is
required, to boost coverage in any location in the state.
What I said
yesterday remains absolutely true and unchanged. What the member just said does
not in any way contradict what I said.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Paul Papalia: The operators advise government as to
how they should deploy capability.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: If it comes to the member for
Geraldton driving operational response—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister!
Mr Paul Papalia: —firstly, she is going to get
very tired, because there is a lot of demand for decision-making going on at
any one time.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister for Emergency Services!
Mr Paul Papalia: Secondly—
The Speaker: Minister! Just wait two seconds, please.
Member for Central
Wheatbelt, you are not helping. You are engaging and interrupting and
interjecting far too much. Please stop. Thank you.
Mr Paul Papalia: Mr Speaker, having not responded to
the interjection, I am sure it is not being recorded, so for the rest of the
world, they are not hearing it. I know it is annoying for you, but do not
worry. If we just ignore him, he does not exist.
The point is the
member is not a specialist. The member is not knowledgeable enough to be
advising the government or DFES—
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: The member for Geraldton is not
knowledgeable enough to be advising the government or DFES as to where or how
to deploy their helicopters. Neither am I. That is why I am not going to tell
them. However, we have the capacity and we have the world-class capability. In
the event that there is a requirement to surge a
capability in any part of the state to ensure that there is additional coverage
for a perceived greater demand, the operators no doubt will advise us and deploy
the aircraft accordingly.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Just before I give the member her supplementary,
if members of her party could cut it back, that would be appreciated.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.