❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Minister for Environment's response to concerns raised by the Australian Workers' Union about inadequate firefighting resources within the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Minister denies a resource issue exists.
AnsweredQoN 31Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION —
FIRE CONTROL EMPLOYEES
31. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to a letter written to the minister on 26 September
2011 and to a follow-up letter written on 24 October 2011 by the Australian
Workers' Union, the union that represents Department of Environment and
Conservation fire control employees. Concerns
were outlined in those letters that the manning level of DEC firefighters and
their resources were inadequate for DEC to carry out essential firefighting
duties. The union requested a meeting with the minister to discuss these
concerns. The minister did not meet with the union but replied on 31 October by
saying that he would work with DEC to bring any concerns that may arise to the
attention of the government with the intention of seeking solutions.
(1) What specific
actions did the minister take following these letters?
(2) Did the minister
raise these concerns with his cabinet colleagues?
(3) Did the minister
make a request for additional resources from Treasury?
(4) How did the
minister follow up these concerns with director general Keiran McNamara?
FIRE CONTROL EMPLOYEES
31. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to a letter written to the minister on 26 September
2011 and to a follow-up letter written on 24 October 2011 by the Australian
Workers' Union, the union that represents Department of Environment and
Conservation fire control employees. Concerns
were outlined in those letters that the manning level of DEC firefighters and
their resources were inadequate for DEC to carry out essential firefighting
duties. The union requested a meeting with the minister to discuss these
concerns. The minister did not meet with the union but replied on 31 October by
saying that he would work with DEC to bring any concerns that may arise to the
attention of the government with the intention of seeking solutions.
(1) What specific
actions did the minister take following these letters?
(2) Did the minister
raise these concerns with his cabinet colleagues?
(3) Did the minister
make a request for additional resources from Treasury?
(4) How did the
minister follow up these concerns with director general Keiran McNamara?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I thank the member for
Girrawheen for the question. I do not know where the member is coming from, but
I think her questions are a result of the latest Keelty report. The Keelty
report did not identify a resource issue. There is no such thing as a resource
issue. I acknowledged the letter from the union. I have discussed it with my
director general. He has not raised a concern with me about having too few
resources. The ''Keelty II'' report has no reference to a problem
with resources.
Girrawheen for the question. I do not know where the member is coming from, but
I think her questions are a result of the latest Keelty report. The Keelty
report did not identify a resource issue. There is no such thing as a resource
issue. I acknowledged the letter from the union. I have discussed it with my
director general. He has not raised a concern with me about having too few
resources. The ''Keelty II'' report has no reference to a problem
with resources.
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