❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Environment regarding changes to prescribed burn approvals after the Margaret River bushfires and seeks assurance on risk management. The Minister states no changes have been made pending the inquiry's findings and tables a media statement about staff reassignment.
AnsweredQoN 847Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARGARET RIVER BUSHFIRES — PRESCRIBED BURNS
I refer to the minister’s answer to my first question, in which he confirmed that there will be more prescribed burns between now and Christmas, and to the approval process that led to the Department of Environment and Conservation allowing a prescribed burn to be carried out in weather conditions that caused the Margaret River bushfires. (1) What changes has the minister made to the prescribed burns approvals process since last week? (2) How can the minister assure Western Australians ahead of the government’s inquiry that in the meantime he is managing the risk involved of controlled burns escaping? Mr W.R. MARMION
I refer to the minister’s answer to my first question, in which he confirmed that there will be more prescribed burns between now and Christmas, and to the approval process that led to the Department of Environment and Conservation allowing a prescribed burn to be carried out in weather conditions that caused the Margaret River bushfires. (1) What changes has the minister made to the prescribed burns approvals process since last week? (2) How can the minister assure Western Australians ahead of the government’s inquiry that in the meantime he is managing the risk involved of controlled burns escaping? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
(1) What changes has the minister made to the prescribed burns approvals process since last week? (2) How can the minister assure Western Australians ahead of the government’s inquiry that in the meantime he is managing the risk involved of controlled burns escaping? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
(2) How can the minister assure Western Australians ahead of the government’s inquiry that in the meantime he is managing the risk involved of controlled burns escaping? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
(1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
[See paper 4298.]
(1) What changes has the minister made to the prescribed burns approvals process since last week? (2) How can the minister assure Western Australians ahead of the government’s inquiry that in the meantime he is managing the risk involved of controlled burns escaping? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
(2) How can the minister assure Western Australians ahead of the government’s inquiry that in the meantime he is managing the risk involved of controlled burns escaping? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
(1)–(2) I can advise that there are no changes to the current prescribed burning program — Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
Ms M.M. Quirk : So much for lessons learnt. Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
Mr W.R. MARMION : — but if there are lessons learnt from the investigation, there could be changes made. But at the moment I have not directed any changes to the current program or the way they operate. However, obviously, if they think they need to, they may do that. The other piece of information that I might like to table is a media statement by the director general that was released by the department this morning. He has decided to move one of the gentlemen in the operational duties area who, for his own welfare and in the interests of the department, has been moved into another area of the department. [See paper 4298.]
[See paper 4298.]
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