❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on communication protocols between the Minister for Emergency Services' office and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), including potential interference, briefing notes, speech notes, meeting frequency, and media inquiries. The Minister denies interference and provision of speech notes, provides context on meeting frequency, and defends media inquiry protocols.
AnsweredQoN 1438Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the communication agreement that exists between the Minister's office and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and I ask: (a) has any complaint or concern been raised with you or the Minister's office in relation to a member of your staff seeking to direct or influence an employee of the Department in the performance of their function; (b) if yes to (a) please identify the date and circumstance of any such instance; (c) If yes to (a), please identify any action that was taken to remedy the complaint or concern; (d) pursuant to clause 2.4 of the agreement please identify the date and subject of each of the ten most recent requests for briefing notes; (e) please table the ten most recent briefing notes received from the Department; (f) has there been any instance of the Department preparing speech notes for any Member of Parliament for an occasion in which they are not formally representing you at an official event or function; (g) if yes to (f), please identify the date and circumstance of each occasion; (h) please identify the dates in 2023 in which the Minister and Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner have formally met pursuant to clause 3.2; and (i) is it normal for communication agreements for 'all media inquiries' made directly to the Department to be discussed with the Minister's media adviser in the first instance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 June 2023
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
8 days
(a) No
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
(d – e) Ministers and their offices receive briefing notes from their departments and agencies on a
regular and often ad hoc basis. Given the broad and nonspecific nature of the Member’s request, I would encourage more specificity.
(f) No
(g) Not applicable.
(h) I regularly meet with the FES Commissioner to be informed of and assess potential risks to the state and receive more frequent briefings when serious incidents are affecting the community. For example, from 3 January 2023 until 4 February 2023 I met with the FES Commissioner on the subject of Ex-Serve Tropical Low Ellie daily. I continue to meet weekly with the FES Commissioner on this matter.
(i) Discussions between Departments and the Ministers office in matters relating to media ensures an accurate and well-informed Government response.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
(d – e) Ministers and their offices receive briefing notes from their departments and agencies on a
regular and often ad hoc basis. Given the broad and nonspecific nature of the Member’s request, I would encourage more specificity.
(f) No
(g) Not applicable.
(h) I regularly meet with the FES Commissioner to be informed of and assess potential risks to the state and receive more frequent briefings when serious incidents are affecting the community. For example, from 3 January 2023 until 4 February 2023 I met with the FES Commissioner on the subject of Ex-Serve Tropical Low Ellie daily. I continue to meet weekly with the FES Commissioner on this matter.
(i) Discussions between Departments and the Ministers office in matters relating to media ensures an accurate and well-informed Government response.
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