❓ Question regarding the coordination of multiple investigations into a bushfire near Two Peoples Bay and the impact on traumatised witnesses. The Minister acknowledges the incident and ongoing inquiry but declines to comment further.
AnsweredQoN 599Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TWO PEOPLES BAY
BUSHFIRE — INVESTIGATION
599. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the bushfire near Two
Peoples Bay on 12 October and to the minister's response to a question
in the other place yesterday that until investigations by the Department of
Environment and Conservation, WorkSafe, WA Police and Fire and Emergency
Services Authority were complete, he would not comment further on the incident.
(1) How are these separate investigations
being coordinated, if at all?
(2) Does
this mean that highly traumatised witnesses are having to repeat their account
of events several times?
(3) When does the minister anticipate these inquiries will be
completed?
BUSHFIRE — INVESTIGATION
599. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the bushfire near Two
Peoples Bay on 12 October and to the minister's response to a question
in the other place yesterday that until investigations by the Department of
Environment and Conservation, WorkSafe, WA Police and Fire and Emergency
Services Authority were complete, he would not comment further on the incident.
(1) How are these separate investigations
being coordinated, if at all?
(2) Does
this mean that highly traumatised witnesses are having to repeat their account
of events several times?
(3) When does the minister anticipate these inquiries will be
completed?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for Girrawheen for the question.
(1)–(3)
As members know, I went to Albany on Tuesday morning and I spoke with all those
people involved in the accident. Obviously, there were a range of different
emotions, depending on the individual, and a lot of support services are being
put into place. As was reported in the newspaper, a major factor in the
incident was a sudden change in the direction of the wind, and I would not
comment any further than that. As I said in an answer to a question without notice
in the other house, all fires and any incidents are reviewed anyway, but with
this particular one, DEC staff are involved, as are FESA staff, WorkSafe staff,
City of Albany staff and the police. They will be looking at doing a full
inquiry into this, and it is not appropriate for me to comment.
member for Girrawheen for the question.
(1)–(3)
As members know, I went to Albany on Tuesday morning and I spoke with all those
people involved in the accident. Obviously, there were a range of different
emotions, depending on the individual, and a lot of support services are being
put into place. As was reported in the newspaper, a major factor in the
incident was a sudden change in the direction of the wind, and I would not
comment any further than that. As I said in an answer to a question without notice
in the other house, all fires and any incidents are reviewed anyway, but with
this particular one, DEC staff are involved, as are FESA staff, WorkSafe staff,
City of Albany staff and the police. They will be looking at doing a full
inquiry into this, and it is not appropriate for me to comment.
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