❓ Question regarding reduction of frontline firefighters and adequacy of resources following the Keelty report on the Margaret River fires. The Minister assures that recommendations are being implemented and resources allocated.
AnsweredQoN 458Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — FIREFIGHTERS
458. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to a finding of Mr Mick Keelty in the aftermath of
the Margaret River fires that ''the constant turnover of DEC staff, the
need to work long hours and drive long distances between centres and areas of
operation during prescribed burns may have a detrimental effect on the
judgement and performance of some DEC staff.''
(1) Under the
Premier's bigger picture, why has the minister reduced the number of
front-line firefighters from 299 under Labor to only 250 operational this year?
(2) Will the
minister guarantee that his agency has the staff and equipment it has requested
to meet the challenges of the imminent fire season?
(3) Will he
guarantee there will be no further reductions in staff and that shifts will not
be lengthened?
OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION — FIREFIGHTERS
458. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to a finding of Mr Mick Keelty in the aftermath of
the Margaret River fires that ''the constant turnover of DEC staff, the
need to work long hours and drive long distances between centres and areas of
operation during prescribed burns may have a detrimental effect on the
judgement and performance of some DEC staff.''
(1) Under the
Premier's bigger picture, why has the minister reduced the number of
front-line firefighters from 299 under Labor to only 250 operational this year?
(2) Will the
minister guarantee that his agency has the staff and equipment it has requested
to meet the challenges of the imminent fire season?
(3) Will he
guarantee there will be no further reductions in staff and that shifts will not
be lengthened?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for Girrawheen for the question.
(1)–(3)
Yes, the Keelty report made a number of recommendations to the state
government, a number of which are related to the Department of Environment and
Conservation. One of them relates to career advancement for firefighters. In
the last budget we allocated around $30 million to the Department of
Environment and Conservation over a period of three years to upgrade facilities
and for more firefighting officers for actually fighting fires. So we have this
under control. All the recommendations from the Keelty report are being
implemented.
member for Girrawheen for the question.
(1)–(3)
Yes, the Keelty report made a number of recommendations to the state
government, a number of which are related to the Department of Environment and
Conservation. One of them relates to career advancement for firefighters. In
the last budget we allocated around $30 million to the Department of
Environment and Conservation over a period of three years to upgrade facilities
and for more firefighting officers for actually fighting fires. So we have this
under control. All the recommendations from the Keelty report are being
implemented.
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