❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the establishment of a sovereign aerial firefighting capability in WA, referencing a Royal Commission recommendation and a specific proposal in Cunderdin. The Minister provides an update on existing arrangements and deployment dates.
AnsweredQoN 1324Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES — AERIAL FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITY
1324. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to recommendation 8.1 of the
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements that calls for
states to establish a sovereign aerial firefighting capability.
(1) Can the minister please provide an update on how
the state government is addressing this recommendation?
(2) Is the
minister aware of the private proposal to establish a sovereign aerial
firefighting fleet based out of Cunderdin, and has the minister met with the
proponent?
(3) If no to (2),
why not?
(4) Noting the
early onset of bushfire risk in southern Western Australia, on what date will
rotary-wing firefighting aircraft be available for deployment?
SERVICES — AERIAL FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITY
1324. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to recommendation 8.1 of the
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements that calls for
states to establish a sovereign aerial firefighting capability.
(1) Can the minister please provide an update on how
the state government is addressing this recommendation?
(2) Is the
minister aware of the private proposal to establish a sovereign aerial
firefighting fleet based out of Cunderdin, and has the minister met with the
proponent?
(3) If no to (2),
why not?
(4) Noting the
early onset of bushfire risk in southern Western Australia, on what date will
rotary-wing firefighting aircraft be available for deployment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for Emergency Services.
(1) With the
exception of the WA-based seasonal large air tanker, all contract aircraft
engaged in the seasonal aerial firefighting fleet are sourced from
sovereign-based providers.
(2)–(3)
I have not been provided with a proposal for Cunderdin. Air operations for
bushfires are a matter for the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, who
collaborates with the Australian and New Zealand National Council for Fire and
Emergency Services and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre to assess all
proposals for air support during our high-threat period.
(4) On 25 October
2023, which is a week earlier than contracted.
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for Emergency Services.
(1) With the
exception of the WA-based seasonal large air tanker, all contract aircraft
engaged in the seasonal aerial firefighting fleet are sourced from
sovereign-based providers.
(2)–(3)
I have not been provided with a proposal for Cunderdin. Air operations for
bushfires are a matter for the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, who
collaborates with the Australian and New Zealand National Council for Fire and
Emergency Services and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre to assess all
proposals for air support during our high-threat period.
(4) On 25 October
2023, which is a week earlier than contracted.
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