❓ A parliamentary question regarding discrepancies in budget allocations for bushfire mitigation, specifically concerning $5.8 million of Royalties for Regions funding. The Minister clarifies the allocation and responsibilities between DFES and DPLH.
AnsweredQoN 5251Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to your response in Budget Estimates on 23 May 2019 to my question in reference to $5.8m of royalties for regions funding on page 191 of Budget Paper 3 for “Bushfire Mitigation on Crown Land”, and ask: (a) Was the Minister aware of this $5.8m funding allocation when I questioned him on the matter in Budget Estimates on that date: (i) If yes, why did the Minister say “all the funding that we get for the purposes of mitigation is set out on page 339” when questioned about this allocation; and (ii) If no, why did the Minister say I “have already answered it in Estimates hearings” when I asked a Question Without Notice on the topic on Thursday, 13 June 2019; (b) Does the Minister stand by his comments in Budget Estimates on 23rd M 2019 that “all Royalties for Regions funding for fire mitigation is listed in the table on a page 339”: (i) If no, will the minister put the record straight and apologise to the House; and (ii) If yes, how does the Minister explain $5.8m of Royalties for Regions funding listed on page 191 of Budget Paper 3 of which the Treasurer says will be managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services; and (c) Can the Minister explain where the $5.8m of Royalties for Regions funding listed on Page 191 of Budget Paper 3, will be spent and the agency that will be spending/managing it?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 August 2019
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
4 days
(a)(i) – (ii) The amount of $5.8 million referred to in the Question on Notice relates to Budget Paper No.3 ‘Royalties for Region Program’ Table 1 page 191 under Investing in our Environment -Bushfire Mitigation on Crown Land Regional Town sites, as well as Budget Paper No.2 Volume 2 page 618 under the agency Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s ‘Details of Controlled Grants and Subsidies’ table.
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) has been allocated $5.8 million in Royalties for Regions (RfR) monies allocated in 2019-20 available under the Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF) for works by local governments and state agencies. DFES assists DPLH in facilitating a portion of this MAF via grants to regional local governments to undertake bushfire mitigation treatments. DFES records that portion of RfR funding received from DPLH each year.
The comment referenced ‘all the funding that we get for the purposes of mitigation is set out on page 399’ relates to bushfire mitigation that DFES facilitates or is responsible for. This includes the following:
2019-20 $’000
Emergency Services Levy – Bushfire Mitigation
11,190
DPLH MAF – Bushfire Mitigation
928
DPLH – Unallocated Crown Land
500
Pursuant to standing orders and as per the Chair’s instructions, the question asked by the Member should directly relate to Part 7 Community Safety, Division 27 Fire and Emergency Services.
(b)(i)(ii) DFES does not manage the $5.8 million of RfR funding allocated to DPLH for Bushfire Mitigation on Crown Land Regional Town sites. DFES only assists DPLH in facilitating the MAF via grants to regional Local Governments as well as providing mitigation works for DPLH on Unallocated Crown Land.
All of DFES’ bushfire mitigation is outlined on Budget Paper No.2 Volume 2 page 399 under the ‘Rural Fire Division’ table and detailed below.
2019-20 $’000
Emergency Services Levy – Bushfire Mitigation
11,190
DPLH MAF – Bushfire Mitigation
928
DPLH – Unallocated Crown Land
500
(c) Please refer to (a)(i)-(ii).
The DPLH as the amount of $5.8m relates to RfR funding to the DPLH and appears in the Department’s budget papers under the Details of Controlled Grants and Subsidies’ section.
DFES assists DPLH in facilitating a portion of this MAF via grants to regional local governments to undertake bushfire mitigation treatments. This amount totals $3.001 million in 2018-19 and $0.928 million in 2019-20.
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) has been allocated $5.8 million in Royalties for Regions (RfR) monies allocated in 2019-20 available under the Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF) for works by local governments and state agencies. DFES assists DPLH in facilitating a portion of this MAF via grants to regional local governments to undertake bushfire mitigation treatments. DFES records that portion of RfR funding received from DPLH each year.
The comment referenced ‘all the funding that we get for the purposes of mitigation is set out on page 399’ relates to bushfire mitigation that DFES facilitates or is responsible for. This includes the following:
2019-20 $’000
Emergency Services Levy – Bushfire Mitigation
11,190
DPLH MAF – Bushfire Mitigation
928
DPLH – Unallocated Crown Land
500
Pursuant to standing orders and as per the Chair’s instructions, the question asked by the Member should directly relate to Part 7 Community Safety, Division 27 Fire and Emergency Services.
(b)(i)(ii) DFES does not manage the $5.8 million of RfR funding allocated to DPLH for Bushfire Mitigation on Crown Land Regional Town sites. DFES only assists DPLH in facilitating the MAF via grants to regional Local Governments as well as providing mitigation works for DPLH on Unallocated Crown Land.
All of DFES’ bushfire mitigation is outlined on Budget Paper No.2 Volume 2 page 399 under the ‘Rural Fire Division’ table and detailed below.
2019-20 $’000
Emergency Services Levy – Bushfire Mitigation
11,190
DPLH MAF – Bushfire Mitigation
928
DPLH – Unallocated Crown Land
500
(c) Please refer to (a)(i)-(ii).
The DPLH as the amount of $5.8m relates to RfR funding to the DPLH and appears in the Department’s budget papers under the Details of Controlled Grants and Subsidies’ section.
DFES assists DPLH in facilitating a portion of this MAF via grants to regional local governments to undertake bushfire mitigation treatments. This amount totals $3.001 million in 2018-19 and $0.928 million in 2019-20.
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