❓ Hon Martin Pritchard questions the confidentiality of submissions made during the review of emergency services acts, particularly regarding volunteer concerns. The Minister acknowledges the confidentiality assurances and the need for further review to determine the number of formal requests for confidentiality.
AnsweredQoN 90Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EMERGENCY
SERVICES ACTS — REVIEW
90. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the review of the emergency services acts and the
277 submissions about which it was asserted that they be provided on the
understanding that they be kept confidential.
(1) What is the basis of this understanding?
(2) Was there
specific reference in calling for submissions that indicated that submissions
would be treated in confidence?
(3) Of the 277
written submissions, how many contained requests within the document that the
submission be treated with confidence?
SERVICES ACTS — REVIEW
90. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the review of the emergency services acts and the
277 submissions about which it was asserted that they be provided on the
understanding that they be kept confidential.
(1) What is the basis of this understanding?
(2) Was there
specific reference in calling for submissions that indicated that submissions
would be treated in confidence?
(3) Of the 277
written submissions, how many contained requests within the document that the
submission be treated with confidence?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the
Minister for Emergency Services, I thank the honourable for some notice of the
question.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises —
(1) Stakeholders,
in particular volunteers, expressed concern with raising some views that may
have been different to the views expressed by their respective volunteer
associations. As such, stakeholders requested that their submissions be treated
in confidence.
(2) The project
team provided verbal assurances at information sessions and workshops that
although submissions would be treated in confidence, they would be used to
inform the expert panel discussions and workshops.
(3) In order to
assess the number of written submissions that specially requested that their
submission be treated in confidence, additional time will be required to review
every submission. However, it is important to note the majority of stakeholders
submitted comments on the understanding that they would be treated in
confidence so all submissions were treated in this manner.
Minister for Emergency Services, I thank the honourable for some notice of the
question.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises —
(1) Stakeholders,
in particular volunteers, expressed concern with raising some views that may
have been different to the views expressed by their respective volunteer
associations. As such, stakeholders requested that their submissions be treated
in confidence.
(2) The project
team provided verbal assurances at information sessions and workshops that
although submissions would be treated in confidence, they would be used to
inform the expert panel discussions and workshops.
(3) In order to
assess the number of written submissions that specially requested that their
submission be treated in confidence, additional time will be required to review
every submission. However, it is important to note the majority of stakeholders
submitted comments on the understanding that they would be treated in
confidence so all submissions were treated in this manner.
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