❓ A parliamentary question regarding the emergency services' response to a severe storm in Perth and the South West, particularly Carey Park. The Minister's response details the SES efforts and includes political commentary, leading to interjections and points of order.
AnsweredQoN 590Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMERGENCY
SERVICES — STORM RESPONSE
590. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
As the minister knows, a severe storm damaged properties
across Perth and the south west, and Carey Park in my electorate was considered
to be one of the worst-affected areas. Can the minister inform the house about
the efforts of emergency services personnel in responding to this event?
SERVICES — STORM RESPONSE
590. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
As the minister knows, a severe storm damaged properties
across Perth and the south west, and Carey Park in my electorate was considered
to be one of the worst-affected areas. Can the minister inform the house about
the efforts of emergency services personnel in responding to this event?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury. I am glad one side of the
house has enough interest in emergency services to ask a question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Member for Bunbury, that is a good question.
On Sunday night a fairly severe storm event came through the
south west and also impacted on parts of the metropolitan area. Wind speed at
the Busselton jetty peaked at 115 kilometres an hour, and in parts of Perth, it
reached up to 106 kilometres an hour. The State Emergency Service received 37 calls
for assistance in the electorates of the members for Bunbury and Vasse. In the
metropolitan area, 22 calls for assistance were received. Over 650 volunteers
turned out and assisted people on Sunday evening across the south west and in
the metropolitan area. The SES has done a brilliant job. When they are called
upon to help people with patching up roofs, removing fallen trees or clearing
blocked driveways and roads, the volunteers from the SES can always be relied
on to do their bit. I have talked before in this house about Storm Awareness
Week, and what people can do to prepare their own properties for storms. We
always know that they will come, but we cannot always accurately predict them
or, as in this case, accurately predict the force of the winds that come with
those storms. Once again I encourage every single person to do their bit and
make sure that they do not have unsecured objects lying around their properties
that can be picked up in a strong wind and blown through a window, the
windscreen of a car or the roof of a house. Although we cannot guarantee
anything in a storm, we can all do our bit to make sure that we are as prepared
as possible. Lastly, on behalf the members on this side of the house, we
appreciate the SES.
Mr M. McGowan : We
all do.
Several members interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
If the member for Girrawheen appreciated the work that emergency services
personnel do, she would at least turn up on time when we have a ceremony to
recognise them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the second time. Minister, can
you please wind this up.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Certainly, Mr Speaker.
Point of Order
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker, I just want to draw your attention to the
fact that when ministers make highly provocative remarks in the nature of one
side of the house not caring about people's houses being damaged, and
not caring about SES volunteers, it is going to provoke a response. Perhaps you
might take that into account when calling people to order.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. Minister, wind this up, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Absolutely, Mr Speaker. The point is that when we have a ceremony to recognise
the contribution of emergency services personnel, at least we turn up on time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the first time. I call the member
for Cannington for the third time, and the member for West Swan for the first
time. If people want to be ejected from the chamber, I will eject them. I also
call the Minister for Emergency Services to order for the first time. I take up
the attempt by the Leader of the Opposition to bring up a point of order. The
fact that the minister mentioned one side of the house does not give members
licence to shout from that side of the house. The minister can deal with the
answer in any way that he deems fit, and that is the way it works. Being
mentioned does not mean that a member can shout out. On the other hand, I want
short and concise answers.
house has enough interest in emergency services to ask a question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Member for Bunbury, that is a good question.
On Sunday night a fairly severe storm event came through the
south west and also impacted on parts of the metropolitan area. Wind speed at
the Busselton jetty peaked at 115 kilometres an hour, and in parts of Perth, it
reached up to 106 kilometres an hour. The State Emergency Service received 37 calls
for assistance in the electorates of the members for Bunbury and Vasse. In the
metropolitan area, 22 calls for assistance were received. Over 650 volunteers
turned out and assisted people on Sunday evening across the south west and in
the metropolitan area. The SES has done a brilliant job. When they are called
upon to help people with patching up roofs, removing fallen trees or clearing
blocked driveways and roads, the volunteers from the SES can always be relied
on to do their bit. I have talked before in this house about Storm Awareness
Week, and what people can do to prepare their own properties for storms. We
always know that they will come, but we cannot always accurately predict them
or, as in this case, accurately predict the force of the winds that come with
those storms. Once again I encourage every single person to do their bit and
make sure that they do not have unsecured objects lying around their properties
that can be picked up in a strong wind and blown through a window, the
windscreen of a car or the roof of a house. Although we cannot guarantee
anything in a storm, we can all do our bit to make sure that we are as prepared
as possible. Lastly, on behalf the members on this side of the house, we
appreciate the SES.
Mr M. McGowan : We
all do.
Several members interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
If the member for Girrawheen appreciated the work that emergency services
personnel do, she would at least turn up on time when we have a ceremony to
recognise them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the second time. Minister, can
you please wind this up.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Certainly, Mr Speaker.
Point of Order
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker, I just want to draw your attention to the
fact that when ministers make highly provocative remarks in the nature of one
side of the house not caring about people's houses being damaged, and
not caring about SES volunteers, it is going to provoke a response. Perhaps you
might take that into account when calling people to order.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. Minister, wind this up, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Absolutely, Mr Speaker. The point is that when we have a ceremony to recognise
the contribution of emergency services personnel, at least we turn up on time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the first time. I call the member
for Cannington for the third time, and the member for West Swan for the first
time. If people want to be ejected from the chamber, I will eject them. I also
call the Minister for Emergency Services to order for the first time. I take up
the attempt by the Leader of the Opposition to bring up a point of order. The
fact that the minister mentioned one side of the house does not give members
licence to shout from that side of the house. The minister can deal with the
answer in any way that he deems fit, and that is the way it works. Being
mentioned does not mean that a member can shout out. On the other hand, I want
short and concise answers.
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