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Consultation and Development of a new Emergency Services Act

Michelle Smith4 November 2012

WA Fire and Emergency Services Conference 2012

Review of the Emergency Services Acts

Regional RoadshowFebruary – March 2013

Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Consultation and Development of a new Emergency Services Act

Michelle Smith4 November 2012

WA Fire and Emergency Services Conference 2012Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Agenda:� History of the legislation

� Reasons for review

� Background

� Review process

� General categories to consider

� Making a submission

Currently:

� Fire Brigades Act 1942

� Bush Fires Act 1954

� Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998(formerly the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of

Western Australia Act 1998)

Emergency Services Legislation


1942


1942


courtesy DFES Heritage Collection

Fire Brigades Act 1942


1954


courtesy DFES Heritage Collection

Bush Fires Act 1954


Fire and Emergency Services Authority

of Western Australia Act 1998

(now renamed the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998)


Reason for review:� Our current legislation is complex

� It does not reflect the vital ways our emergency services organisations interact and rely on each other

� Our aim is to make it simpler and more reflective of how we serve our communities today



Reason for review:� Recent major incidents have highlighted problems with the

legislation

Example:

• handover of control at the most critical point of an incident

• management of communications and evacuations



Background:� October 2006 – CDJSC’s Report on the

Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation

Since this report…



Background:� Cyclones George & Jacob – March 2007

� Boorabbin Fire – December 2007

� Toodyay Fire – December 2009

� Perth Hail Storm – March 2010

� Kalgoorlie Earthquake – April 2010

� Perth Hills & Lake Clifton Fires – February 2011

� Margaret River Fire – November 2011



Review process:

1. Preliminary Consultation (this phase)

2. Development of Draft Options Paper

3. Consultation of Draft Options Paper

4. Parliamentary Drafting Process



Preliminary Consultation:

� This is truly a blank slate – information gathering

� We are working with associations and agencies

to coordinate submissions

� Road shows, meetings, conference calls, emails



Some General Categories to Consider:

� Functions (who does what and when)

� Powers (tools to help us do our jobs)

� Incident Control (first on scene to escalation)

Hot Topics


Some General Categories to Consider:

� Career and volunteer protection

� Training (cost, delivery, standards)

� Fuel load management and enforcement

(across the different land types)

Hot Topics


Functions:

� Clearly sets out agency functions to ensure

that overlaps and potential conflicts can be

recognised and managed

Hot Topics


Powers:Identify and provide appropriate powers for agencies such as:

� Emergency prevention powers

� Emergency response powers (including evacuation)

� Investigative powers

� Inspection powers

� Enforcement and compliance powers

Hot Topics


Incident control:

� Primary control of emergencies

� Handover of control of bushfire

� All forms of emergency – structure fire,

road crash rescue, cyclone, marine rescue,

etc.

Hot Topics


How do we look after our volunteers?

� What are the challenges and opportunities

that arise within the changing landscape?

Hot Topics


Training:

� How do we address challenges and

opportunities with regard to training career

and volunteer personnel?

Hot Topics


Fuel load management and enforcement:� Gazetted districts

� DEC-managed lands

� Unallocated Crown Land

� Remote Indigenous Communities

Hot Topics


We need and value your knowledge:� What do we mean by a submission?

� Brief context – How did it arise?

� Main issue/challenge/success

� Comment/suggestion/solution

� What are the ways you can make a submission?



Contact us:

Michelle SmithA/Project Manager

(08) 9395 9763

Taryn BootAdministration Officer

(08) 9395 9596

[email protected]

DFES Legislation Review

Emergency Services Complex

20 Stockton Bend

Cockburn Central

PERTH WA 6164

PO Box P1174

PERTH WA 6844



How do we keep you informed:

� What are the best ways to keep you

updated?



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