❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on DFES's involvement and costs associated with the search for a lost caesium-137 capsule, including cost recovery from Rio Tinto and potential regulatory changes. The response provides figures on personnel, costs, and confirms no cost discussions with Rio Tinto, deferring investigation details to the Minister for Health.
AnsweredQoN 1270Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Legislative Council question without notice 88 in relation to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) led recovery of a caesium 137 capsule, and I ask: (a) how many DFES personnel were utilised in the search; (b) of those identified in (a), how many were: (i) employees; and (ii) volunteers; (c) how many DFES personnel hours were required for the search and of those how many were attributed to: (i) employees; and (ii) volunteers; (d) what was the total cost of the search; (e) has Rio Tinto or DFES conversed in relation to the former's offer to pay for the expenses relating to the search; (f) please table any briefing material or correspondence held by the Minister in relation to the search; (g) who is conducting the investigation mentioned in answer to part 4 of the above-mentioned question without notice; (h) when will the investigation into this incident be completed; (i) is it expected any fines or charges will be applied as a result of this incident, and if so, please provide detail; and (j) has DFES provided any advice in relation to increasing the maximum penalty for failing to safely transport radioactive materials under the Radiation Safety Regulations from $1,000 to appropriately reflect the risk of transporting radioactive material, and if so, please table this advice.?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 March 2023
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
6 days
(a) 43 DFES personnel were utilised in the search.
(b)(i) 42 employees.
(b)(ii) 1 volunteer.
(c) 960 DFES personnel hours were directly required for the search.
(c)(i) 956 employee hours
(c)(ii) 4 volunteer hours
(d) Total approximate cost of the search to DFES was $85,000.00. This figure is an Incident cost and does not include employee costs, business overheads, or public information costs, or the costs to other agencies and the Commonwealth.
(e) No, DFES has not discussed the cost of the search, nor recovery of those costs with Rio Tinto.
(f) See tabled paper No. #
(g)-(i) These matters should be directed to the Minister for Health.
(j) No
(b)(i) 42 employees.
(b)(ii) 1 volunteer.
(c) 960 DFES personnel hours were directly required for the search.
(c)(i) 956 employee hours
(c)(ii) 4 volunteer hours
(d) Total approximate cost of the search to DFES was $85,000.00. This figure is an Incident cost and does not include employee costs, business overheads, or public information costs, or the costs to other agencies and the Commonwealth.
(e) No, DFES has not discussed the cost of the search, nor recovery of those costs with Rio Tinto.
(f) See tabled paper No. #
(g)-(i) These matters should be directed to the Minister for Health.
(j) No
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