❓ A parliamentary question regarding the operational efficiency payment (OEP) for volunteer emergency services in WA, including eligibility, funding amounts, and review status. The answer provides details on the services covered, funding tiers, and recent reviews.
AnsweredQoN 802Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the operational efficiency payment and I ask: which services are eligible for the payment? (2) of those identified in (1) please identify the number of BGUs per service that are eligible for the payment? (3) what is the funding amount that is applicable to each category or tier of BGU in each eligible service? (4) what is the total funding amount of the payment by eligible service? (5) when was the payment last increased by eligible service? (6) is there an automatic indexation of the payment or how is the funding amount determined annually? (7) has Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) received any request to modernise and increase the payment? (8) is the payment under review or when was it last reviewed to ensure its appropriateness is meeting the needs of BGUs?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 September 2022
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
10 days
1. Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS)
State Emergency Service (SES)
Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services (VFES)
2. 94 VFRS brigades
64 SES units
37 VFES units
3. VFRS
Profile
Total Incidents
Payment
1
101+
$4300
2
51 - 100
$3600
3
1-50
$2900
SES
Profile
Membership
Payment
1
More than 30
$3500
2
16 - 30
$2500
3
6 - 15
$1500
4
Less than 6
$500
VFES
Profile
Total Incidents
Payment
1
101+
$4300
2
51 – 100
$3600
3
1 – 50
$2900
4. The total OEP made to eligible services for 2021/22FY is detailed as below table:
Eligible Service
Amount
VFRS
$319,500
SES
$164,375
VFES
$91,900
Total
$575,775
5. VFRS 2009
SES 2018
VFES 2018
6. Funding is based on a BGU’s profile which is reviewed annually.
7. Yes. The McGowan Government is committed to enhancing emergency services capability throughout Western Australia with significant investments capability with fleet and appliances, PPC & PPE and facility upgrades for a number of BGU’s across the State.
8. The OEP was reviewed by DFES in 2019.
State Emergency Service (SES)
Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services (VFES)
2. 94 VFRS brigades
64 SES units
37 VFES units
3. VFRS
Profile
Total Incidents
Payment
1
101+
$4300
2
51 - 100
$3600
3
1-50
$2900
SES
Profile
Membership
Payment
1
More than 30
$3500
2
16 - 30
$2500
3
6 - 15
$1500
4
Less than 6
$500
VFES
Profile
Total Incidents
Payment
1
101+
$4300
2
51 – 100
$3600
3
1 – 50
$2900
4. The total OEP made to eligible services for 2021/22FY is detailed as below table:
Eligible Service
Amount
VFRS
$319,500
SES
$164,375
VFES
$91,900
Total
$575,775
5. VFRS 2009
SES 2018
VFES 2018
6. Funding is based on a BGU’s profile which is reviewed annually.
7. Yes. The McGowan Government is committed to enhancing emergency services capability throughout Western Australia with significant investments capability with fleet and appliances, PPC & PPE and facility upgrades for a number of BGU’s across the State.
8. The OEP was reviewed by DFES in 2019.
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