❓ Mr. McGowan questions the Minister for Emergency Services about the response to a request for water bombers during the Esperance bushfires. The Minister defends the government's resource allocation process, denying political influence.
AnsweredQoN 942Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ESPERANCE BUSHFIRES —
WATER BOMBERS
942. Mr
M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I have a supplementary question. I refer to the desperate call by the
member for Eyre on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17 November, requesting the
presence of water bombers to attempt to save lives in that fire. Did the
minister take any action whatsoever post that phone call from the member for
Eyre; and, if so, what was it?
WATER BOMBERS
942. Mr
M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I have a supplementary question. I refer to the desperate call by the
member for Eyre on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17 November, requesting the
presence of water bombers to attempt to save lives in that fire. Did the
minister take any action whatsoever post that phone call from the member for
Eyre; and, if so, what was it?
AnswerView source ↗
As I said, I have told every member in this place time and again how
levels are escalated and I have told them time and again when they ring me during
a fire and request resources that it does not work like that. We are a responsible
government. If we were not —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, for the third time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : If we were not in government and if the
Labor Party was in government, we can imagine what would happen. Bushfires in
Labor seats would be put out and bushfires in Liberal seats would be left to
burn. Members with the loudest voice and the best phone numbers would be the
ones who had best service for their electorate. We do not politicise emergency
services. We do not prioritise assets depending on whether or not a member has
the minister's phone number. It does not work like that.
The SPEAKER : That concludes question time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you. I call the Premier to order for the first time. I would
like to call everybody else to order for the first time, but I cannot write
that quickly. Please settle down.
levels are escalated and I have told them time and again when they ring me during
a fire and request resources that it does not work like that. We are a responsible
government. If we were not —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, for the third time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : If we were not in government and if the
Labor Party was in government, we can imagine what would happen. Bushfires in
Labor seats would be put out and bushfires in Liberal seats would be left to
burn. Members with the loudest voice and the best phone numbers would be the
ones who had best service for their electorate. We do not politicise emergency
services. We do not prioritise assets depending on whether or not a member has
the minister's phone number. It does not work like that.
The SPEAKER : That concludes question time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you. I call the Premier to order for the first time. I would
like to call everybody else to order for the first time, but I cannot write
that quickly. Please settle down.
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