❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about the suitability of Nullagine Police Station as an evacuation centre during Cyclone Lua, citing issues with infrastructure, resources, and health provisions. The Minister's response addresses some infrastructure concerns but deflects responsibility for other issues to other departments.
AnsweredQoN 7605Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In reference to the use of the Nullagine Police Station as the appointed Evacuation Centre during Cyclone Lua, I ask, have the following issues been drawn to the attention of the Minister for Police, or relevant State Government Agency:
(a) the major leaks in the Police Station roof, in particular the cell areas, facility rooms and station area;
(b) the lack of forms made available for registration of those who attended on the day, and will the Minister advise
whose responsibility is it to have these registration forms available in such situations;
(c) the lack of facility for the treatment of the sick at the Police Station, as all rooms were taken up by the evacuees;
(d) the need for nursing staff to treat the following cases in the cell area: diabetes, toothache, foot injury, vomiting, an infection and a baby suffering high temperature, and will the Minister take these health issues on board when planning alternative locations for future emergency evacuations;
(e) the housing of evacuees in three separate areas and the inability to treat and feed people at the height of the cyclone;
(f) the shortage of mattresses available meaning evacuees had to sleep on the concrete floor in overcrowded conditions;
(g)
overcrowding of the Police Station passages, making access to toilets difficult;
(h)
the lack of ventilation in the cells and facility area, causing distress to some evacuees;
(i)
the overuse of the toilet facilities in all three cell areas which resulted in blockages and people were left having to use the facilities in the view of others with no privacy;
(j)
the cyclonic driven rain which was forced under the doors and into the passageway wetting bedding and
people sleeping in that area;
(k)
the toilet that overflowed into the passage in the facility area soiling peoples' bedding;
(l)
that evacuees had to remain at the centre after the passage of the cyclone due to flooding and continue to sleep on wet concrete, including young children and babies;
(m)
that the facility did not meet the needs of the disabled and one person had to be housed elsewhere;
(n)
that the school could not be used as a back-up shelter as it has no inside toilet facilities or food preparation areas;
(o)
that food items supplied were not appropriate; and
(p) will the Minister advise what steps are being taken by the Western Australian Government to ensure these issues and concerns are addressed?
(a) the major leaks in the Police Station roof, in particular the cell areas, facility rooms and station area;
(b) the lack of forms made available for registration of those who attended on the day, and will the Minister advise
whose responsibility is it to have these registration forms available in such situations;
(c) the lack of facility for the treatment of the sick at the Police Station, as all rooms were taken up by the evacuees;
(d) the need for nursing staff to treat the following cases in the cell area: diabetes, toothache, foot injury, vomiting, an infection and a baby suffering high temperature, and will the Minister take these health issues on board when planning alternative locations for future emergency evacuations;
(e) the housing of evacuees in three separate areas and the inability to treat and feed people at the height of the cyclone;
(f) the shortage of mattresses available meaning evacuees had to sleep on the concrete floor in overcrowded conditions;
(g)
overcrowding of the Police Station passages, making access to toilets difficult;
(h)
the lack of ventilation in the cells and facility area, causing distress to some evacuees;
(i)
the overuse of the toilet facilities in all three cell areas which resulted in blockages and people were left having to use the facilities in the view of others with no privacy;
(j)
the cyclonic driven rain which was forced under the doors and into the passageway wetting bedding and
people sleeping in that area;
(k)
the toilet that overflowed into the passage in the facility area soiling peoples' bedding;
(l)
that evacuees had to remain at the centre after the passage of the cyclone due to flooding and continue to sleep on wet concrete, including young children and babies;
(m)
that the facility did not meet the needs of the disabled and one person had to be housed elsewhere;
(n)
that the school could not be used as a back-up shelter as it has no inside toilet facilities or food preparation areas;
(o)
that food items supplied were not appropriate; and
(p) will the Minister advise what steps are being taken by the Western Australian Government to ensure these issues and concerns are addressed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Police
Response time
34 days
(a) Major maintenance works have been authorised to commence at the Police Station.
(b - d) This is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection.
(e) I am pleased with the response provided by Police and other emergency providers during and post Cyclone Lua, however, this is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection.
(f) This is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection in consultation with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
(g - m) Please see response to (a).
(n) Local Emergency Plans viewed the police station as the more suitable location during the cyclone. The Local Emergency Management Committee constantly review Emergency Management Plans after an emergency during the de-brief process and use local knowledge along with experience deciding the best location for the evacuation centre.
(o) This is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection.
(p) Please see responses to (a - o).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(b - d) This is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection.
(e) I am pleased with the response provided by Police and other emergency providers during and post Cyclone Lua, however, this is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection.
(f) This is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection in consultation with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
(g - m) Please see response to (a).
(n) Local Emergency Plans viewed the police station as the more suitable location during the cyclone. The Local Emergency Management Committee constantly review Emergency Management Plans after an emergency during the de-brief process and use local knowledge along with experience deciding the best location for the evacuation centre.
(o) This is not within the jurisdiction of WA Police and should be referred to the Department of Child Protection.
(p) Please see responses to (a - o).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.