❓ Question regarding the Minister's delegation of total fire ban declaration power to FESA during the Kelmscott-Roleystone fires and his responsibility for a related legal issue. The Minister defends the delegation as efficient but admits a procedural error by the FESA CEO.
AnsweredQoN 548Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AUTHORITY — FIRE BAN DECLARATION
In the minister’s own second reading speech for the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009, he observed — One of the key amendments is the ability for the Minister for Emergency Services to declare a total fire ban, which would cover specific areas of the state and for a certain period. (1) Given that the minister sponsored this legislation that gave him the power, why then did he delegate it to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority during the Kelmscott–Roleystone fires? (2) Does the minister take any responsibility for the legal bungle that we became aware of yesterday? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
In the minister’s own second reading speech for the Bush Fires Amendment Bill 2009, he observed — One of the key amendments is the ability for the Minister for Emergency Services to declare a total fire ban, which would cover specific areas of the state and for a certain period. (1) Given that the minister sponsored this legislation that gave him the power, why then did he delegate it to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority during the Kelmscott–Roleystone fires? (2) Does the minister take any responsibility for the legal bungle that we became aware of yesterday? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
(2) Does the minister take any responsibility for the legal bungle that we became aware of yesterday? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
(1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
(2) Does the minister take any responsibility for the legal bungle that we became aware of yesterday? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
(1)–(2) I was very interested to hear the member for Girrawheen tell us on the Paul Murray show this morning that when she was minister and there was a call for a total fire ban, she would run down to the FESA office and sign the papers. Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I said nothing of the sort! You’re verballing me! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The member did say words to that effect. Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It was nothing like that, minister, because I was never minister! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I thought: “How interesting if she is up in Kununurra or somewhere.” Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I was never the minister! Get it right! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The power to call total fire bans is vested in the minister, and I have explained that. Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr M. McGowan : She wasn’t even the minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : And that is appropriate—well, she gave the impression she was. Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr F.M. Logan : Can’t you remember? The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I said, “When I was a minister.” Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t even get your sledges right! Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr F.M. Logan : I think you’re having a seniors moment. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am coming to you later as well. I am coming to a few of you later; do not worry. The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
The whole purpose of the total fire ban is to try to get those in place as quickly as possible. Yes, it was vested in the minister. When it first came in, what the CEO of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority used to have to text me was a note of all the shires throughout the Great Southern, the south west, up the north west, wherever it might be, where a total fire ban needed to be implemented. It was a huge text, and I used to have to approve that. That system was put in place by the CEO of FESA. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you have asked a question. I would like to hear an answer to the question you have asked. I would like the opportunity to be provided to the minister to answer that question. I am going to ask members to stop interjecting. If you want to ask further questions today, you will allow this question to proceed. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That was the system that was initiated, I think, in 2008–09 in relation to that. Obviously that was not the best way to work. The CEO of FESA put to me the request that I had to delegate the authority of calling total fire bans to the authority—namely, the board—and then the board would sub-delegate that authority to the CEO and, I think, about three or four operational officers. I did that under very strict guidelines because I felt that it was more appropriate for the people in the command centre—the control post, if we want to call it that—to be able to initiate total fire bans as quickly as possible. In the instance prior to that I could have been anywhere in the state. I might have been out of contact range and I would not have been able to give that authority back to the CEO or indeed to the board or anybody. The system was very responsible; very sensible. I delegate the authority to the board; the board then sub-delegates, and it is covered in the legislation. The board sub-delegates that particular authority to, as I say, the CEO or named officers who would be in the control centre. It is the best possible option. There is no delay; none whatsoever. That is why I instigated that, and it was done properly. What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
What happened, as members are fully aware, is that unfortunately the CEO, who is also the executive officer on the board, did not get it right. What she got was the authority from the chairman of the board to sub-delegate to her, but that should have been ratified by the next board meeting or a special board meeting. That did not happen and that should have happened. The principle of the system was very good. Unfortunately the CEO let me down by not ensuring that — Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, I gave the board the power. The CEO let me down by not ensuring that it was done properly within FESA itself. It was a very sensible proposal, and it happens, I think, in many other areas of government.
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