❓ Mrs. Roberts questions the lack of investigation into the Kimberley Ultramarathon fire, specifically regarding government investment probity. Dr. Hames responds that his department lacks the authority to conduct such an investigation, given it wasn't a sponsor and other agencies are responsible.
AnsweredQoN 750Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Kimberley Ultramarathon — El Questro Wilderness Park Fire
I have a supplementary question. Given the seriousness of the injuries and that FESA and police reports focus only on the cause of the fire, why will the minister’s department not properly investigate the incident itself and the probity of the government investing money into the promotion of the event? Dr K.D. HAMES
I have a supplementary question. Given the seriousness of the injuries and that FESA and police reports focus only on the cause of the fire, why will the minister’s department not properly investigate the incident itself and the probity of the government investing money into the promotion of the event? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
That is again a good question. I have to say that I have thought about how we might do that and about what is a mechanism for a government department that does not sponsor the event itself, that does not have responsibility for fire and emergency services and is not the police. We do not have people who have any power to call in those people and say, “Tell us what you did there.” It is very difficult to work out a mechanism to do that and do it properly. Again, without being the sponsor of the event, what authority do we have? Can we do it as a state government? I do not know how that could possibly occur. It is certainly something I have thought about to see whether there is a way — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: That is again a good question. I have to say that I have thought about how we might do that and about what is a mechanism for a government department that does not sponsor the event itself, that does not have responsibility for fire and emergency services and is not the police. We do not have people who have any power to call in those people and say, “Tell us what you did there.” It is very difficult to work out a mechanism to do that and do it properly. Again, without being the sponsor of the event, what authority do we have? Can we do it as a state government? I do not know how that could possibly occur. It is certainly something I have thought about to see whether there is a way — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
That is again a good question. I have to say that I have thought about how we might do that and about what is a mechanism for a government department that does not sponsor the event itself, that does not have responsibility for fire and emergency services and is not the police. We do not have people who have any power to call in those people and say, “Tell us what you did there.” It is very difficult to work out a mechanism to do that and do it properly. Again, without being the sponsor of the event, what authority do we have? Can we do it as a state government? I do not know how that could possibly occur. It is certainly something I have thought about to see whether there is a way — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: That is again a good question. I have to say that I have thought about how we might do that and about what is a mechanism for a government department that does not sponsor the event itself, that does not have responsibility for fire and emergency services and is not the police. We do not have people who have any power to call in those people and say, “Tell us what you did there.” It is very difficult to work out a mechanism to do that and do it properly. Again, without being the sponsor of the event, what authority do we have? Can we do it as a state government? I do not know how that could possibly occur. It is certainly something I have thought about to see whether there is a way — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
That is again a good question. I have to say that I have thought about how we might do that and about what is a mechanism for a government department that does not sponsor the event itself, that does not have responsibility for fire and emergency services and is not the police. We do not have people who have any power to call in those people and say, “Tell us what you did there.” It is very difficult to work out a mechanism to do that and do it properly. Again, without being the sponsor of the event, what authority do we have? Can we do it as a state government? I do not know how that could possibly occur. It is certainly something I have thought about to see whether there is a way — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You wouldn’t want it to happen again. How would you prevent it happening again? Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
Dr K.D. HAMES : My advice is that we do not have the authority to do that sort of investigation at this stage, no.
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