❓ Question regarding the safety and maintenance of Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) firefighting vehicles and a potential WorkSafe investigation. The Minister denies a formal investigation is underway.
AnsweredQoN 422Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FIREFIGHTING VEHICLES — WORKSAFE
INVESTIGATION
422. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to recent reports in the media that many of the Department of
Fire and Emergency Services fleet of firefighting vehicles are the subject of a
WorkSafe investigation because vehicles are hundreds of kilograms overweight,
have water pressure problems, are equipped with tyres not meant to go off-road
and even have water tanks in the wrong place.
(1) Is the minister embarrassed that he was
not aware of these issues until the journalist alerted him to them?
(2) What responsibility does the minister
take for the lives and safety of firefighters, both career and volunteer?
(3) Can the minister now update the house on the progress of the
WorkSafe investigations?
OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FIREFIGHTING VEHICLES — WORKSAFE
INVESTIGATION
422. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to recent reports in the media that many of the Department of
Fire and Emergency Services fleet of firefighting vehicles are the subject of a
WorkSafe investigation because vehicles are hundreds of kilograms overweight,
have water pressure problems, are equipped with tyres not meant to go off-road
and even have water tanks in the wrong place.
(1) Is the minister embarrassed that he was
not aware of these issues until the journalist alerted him to them?
(2) What responsibility does the minister
take for the lives and safety of firefighters, both career and volunteer?
(3) Can the minister now update the house on the progress of the
WorkSafe investigations?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) When I get one question on
emergency services from the Labor Party in 12 months, I know it does not care
about emergency services. When I get two in eight weeks, it only makes me
believe —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, through the Chair, please. Answer the question.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : When I get two questions on emergency
services in eight weeks, it makes me believe that the rumours that the
Australian Workers' Union has its eyes on the seat of Girrawheen must
be true.
Several members
interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I think the member for Girrawheen is under
the pump.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Member
for Mandurah and Minister for Health, you are called for the first time. I want
an answer through the Chair.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I will start by saying that for a number of
weeks now I have been continually reminded by the Fire and Emergency Services
Commissioner, Wayne Gregson, that there is no formal WorkSafe investigation
into fire trucks owned by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Formal!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
There is no WorkSafe investigation. I can tell the member for Girrawheen that
some time ago someone who used to work in the fleet garage out in O'Connor
made some allegations to WorkSafe about the conditions and the structural
integrity of a number of fire trucks. WorkSafe had a look at those allegations.
As of this morning,
no improvement notices whatsoever have been issued by WorkSafe on fire trucks
owned by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Why did I not know
about an investigation? Perhaps because there is no investigation! I also add
that the Department of Fire and Emergency Services is spending a significant
amount of money—millions and millions of dollars—upgrading the
fleet. We have the most modern up-to-date fleet of emergency service vehicles
in the history of the state of Western Australia. In the past, under a Labor
government, some fire trucks were over 20 years old; they were recycled garbage
trucks that members opposite allowed to go onto a fireground, which is a very
dangerous place. The Labor government operated 20-plus-year-old fire trucks. We
are updating the entire fleet. We are rolling out true protection upgrades and
ensuring that any engineering issues to do with weight, suspension and location
of equipment on fire trucks are addressed properly. Is the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services working with WorkSafe to ensure that is done? Of course, the
department consults with WorkSafe, but I can tell the member for Girrawheen for
the sixth or seventh time in two weeks that my commissioner has advised me that
there is no formal WorkSafe investigation into trucks owned by the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services.
emergency services from the Labor Party in 12 months, I know it does not care
about emergency services. When I get two in eight weeks, it only makes me
believe —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, through the Chair, please. Answer the question.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : When I get two questions on emergency
services in eight weeks, it makes me believe that the rumours that the
Australian Workers' Union has its eyes on the seat of Girrawheen must
be true.
Several members
interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I think the member for Girrawheen is under
the pump.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Member
for Mandurah and Minister for Health, you are called for the first time. I want
an answer through the Chair.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I will start by saying that for a number of
weeks now I have been continually reminded by the Fire and Emergency Services
Commissioner, Wayne Gregson, that there is no formal WorkSafe investigation
into fire trucks owned by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Formal!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
There is no WorkSafe investigation. I can tell the member for Girrawheen that
some time ago someone who used to work in the fleet garage out in O'Connor
made some allegations to WorkSafe about the conditions and the structural
integrity of a number of fire trucks. WorkSafe had a look at those allegations.
As of this morning,
no improvement notices whatsoever have been issued by WorkSafe on fire trucks
owned by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Why did I not know
about an investigation? Perhaps because there is no investigation! I also add
that the Department of Fire and Emergency Services is spending a significant
amount of money—millions and millions of dollars—upgrading the
fleet. We have the most modern up-to-date fleet of emergency service vehicles
in the history of the state of Western Australia. In the past, under a Labor
government, some fire trucks were over 20 years old; they were recycled garbage
trucks that members opposite allowed to go onto a fireground, which is a very
dangerous place. The Labor government operated 20-plus-year-old fire trucks. We
are updating the entire fleet. We are rolling out true protection upgrades and
ensuring that any engineering issues to do with weight, suspension and location
of equipment on fire trucks are addressed properly. Is the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services working with WorkSafe to ensure that is done? Of course, the
department consults with WorkSafe, but I can tell the member for Girrawheen for
the sixth or seventh time in two weeks that my commissioner has advised me that
there is no formal WorkSafe investigation into trucks owned by the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services.
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