Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Environment regarding the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) prescribed burning targets and firefighter staffing levels in the south west, seeking details on deployment, recruitment, departures, and optimal staffing numbers. The Minister was unable to provide answers within the timeframe and requested the question be placed on notice.

AnsweredQoN 545Legislative Council
Asked
21 August 2012
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — PRESCRIBED BURNS — FIREFIGHTERS
545. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the revelation that the Department of Environment and
Conservation has only achieved 103 000 hectares of its annual prescribed
burning target of 200 000 hectares for 2011–12 in the south west.
(1) How many firefighter staff will be deployed by DEC in the south
west this fire season?
(2) Of those, how many are seasonal workers;
how many are DEC employees who only perform firefighter duties on a part-time
basis; and how many have been recruited in the past six months on a seasonal
basis and on a full-time basis?
(3) How many firefighter personnel have left the employment of DEC in
the past six months?
(4) What is the estimate of the optimal
number of firefighters to adequately protect the south west, and how is this
calculated?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member
for some notice of question. Unfortunately, I could not let the member know
this earlier or I would have.
(1)–(4) The answer is not available
in the time required and I therefore ask the honourable member to place the
question on notice.

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