❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding DFES training, funding, staffing, and equipment in regional areas, with a focus on the Harvey, Waroona, and Murray Shires. The answers reveal details about course delivery, levy allocation, staffing levels, and appliance disposal.
AnsweredQoN 5139Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) In the past two years, how many Department of Fire Emergency Services training courses have been delivered to volunteers by Full Time Equivalents (FTE)'s in: (a) Harvey Shire; (b) Waroona Shire; and (c) Murray Shire? (2) What percentage of the Emergency Services Levy is collected in the regions? (3) How much of the Emergency Services Levy is spent in the regions? (4) What is the total cost of destruction caused by fire in: (a) Regional Areas; and (b) Metropolitan areas? (5) How many Department of Fire and Emergency Services FTE's are employed today compared with ten years ago? (6) How many Department of Fire and Emergency FTE's are employed regionally? (7) Does the Department of Fire and Emergency Services supply student manuals for any of its courses run by the Harvey Shire? (8) How many decommissioned fire appliances have been offered/purchased by volunteer brigades in the past five years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 April 2016
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
40 days
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advises:
(1)(a) 125 courses
(1)(b) 45 courses
(1)(c) 66 courses
(2) Approximately 17% ($49.7 million) for 2014/15.
(3) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is a multi-hazard organisation consisting of Career and Volunteer Emergency Services operating throughout the State.
In 2014/15 approximately $69.0 million was expended on direct costs for emergency services outside of the metropolitan area including grants to Local Governments for costs associated with Volunteer SES Units and Bushfire Brigades, grants to Volunteer Marine Rescue Groups, costs associated with Career and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Brigades, other DFES Volunteer Emergency Services Units and regional offices.
In addition, DFES also incurs considerable costs for operational management, coordination and planning, aviation services, training and doctrine services, information communication and technology services, fleet and equipment services, media and corporate communication services, safety and welfare services, community engagement services and various other corporate administration and governance services. DFES does not notionally allocate these costs on a geographical location basis and therefore is unable to specify how much Emergency Service Levy funding in total is spent in regional locations.
(4) The cost of fire damage is not measured by DFES.
(5) 1,538.8 as at 4 March 2016
1,159.9 as at 31 December 2005 (closest date available for data comparison)
(6) 223.8 as at 4 March 2016
(7) Yes. Manuals for all courses are available from the Volunteer Portal.
(8) DFES disposes of de-commissioned fire appliances in accordance with the State Supply Commission Disposal of Goods Policy. Based on DFES disposal records no decommissioned fire appliances have been purchased by Western Australian volunteer brigades in the last 5 years. It should be noted since December 2014, 28 new emergency services appliances have been delivered to brigades in the South West, including Shire of Murray and the Shire of Boddington.
(1)(a) 125 courses
(1)(b) 45 courses
(1)(c) 66 courses
(2) Approximately 17% ($49.7 million) for 2014/15.
(3) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is a multi-hazard organisation consisting of Career and Volunteer Emergency Services operating throughout the State.
In 2014/15 approximately $69.0 million was expended on direct costs for emergency services outside of the metropolitan area including grants to Local Governments for costs associated with Volunteer SES Units and Bushfire Brigades, grants to Volunteer Marine Rescue Groups, costs associated with Career and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Brigades, other DFES Volunteer Emergency Services Units and regional offices.
In addition, DFES also incurs considerable costs for operational management, coordination and planning, aviation services, training and doctrine services, information communication and technology services, fleet and equipment services, media and corporate communication services, safety and welfare services, community engagement services and various other corporate administration and governance services. DFES does not notionally allocate these costs on a geographical location basis and therefore is unable to specify how much Emergency Service Levy funding in total is spent in regional locations.
(4) The cost of fire damage is not measured by DFES.
(5) 1,538.8 as at 4 March 2016
1,159.9 as at 31 December 2005 (closest date available for data comparison)
(6) 223.8 as at 4 March 2016
(7) Yes. Manuals for all courses are available from the Volunteer Portal.
(8) DFES disposes of de-commissioned fire appliances in accordance with the State Supply Commission Disposal of Goods Policy. Based on DFES disposal records no decommissioned fire appliances have been purchased by Western Australian volunteer brigades in the last 5 years. It should be noted since December 2014, 28 new emergency services appliances have been delivered to brigades in the South West, including Shire of Murray and the Shire of Boddington.
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