Emergency Services
25/02/2015
Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.L. Brokenshire:
1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into—
(a) the government establishment of the commissioner to replace chief officers in the proposed emergency services reform;
(b) the process involved in consultation and what consideration was given to matters raised during consultation in developing the reform proposal;
(c) the business plan;
(d) cost- benefit analysis and probity regarding the proposed reform;
(e) consideration and consultation with volunteer organisations affected by the government proposal;
(f) the establishment of legal requirements for the chief officer and chief executive officer of emergency services and SAFECOM and the SAFECOM board; and
(g) any other relevant matters.
2. That standing order 389 be so far suspended as to enable the chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote only.
3. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.
4. That standing order 396 be suspended to enable strangers to be admitted when the select committee is examining witnesses unless the committee otherwise resolves, but they shall be excluded when the committee is deliberating.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: Very briefly, Dignity for Disability wholeheartedly supports this motion. Recent events have, unfortunately, demonstrated quite clearly that there is a need to pressure the government into being more consultative and collaborative, particularly on issues of emergency services reform. We thank the CFS Volunteers Foundation, in particular, for the feedback it has given us on these issues and for its advice to support this motion. We believe the best way to get good outcomes is to properly involve the people those outcomes most effect, and we will support this motion for that reason.
As something of a side note, I want to flag that Dignity for Disability is also working very hard on making emergency broadcasts more accessible, particularly to people with disabilities. We held a very successful public meeting on that subject recently, and I am very thankful for the feedback we are receiving. I was particularly thankful to see a CFS volunteer firefighter attend that meeting of his own accord, and show goodwill for what we are trying to achieve in making those announcements more accessible. I think it is clear that the CFS does want to work with the community to ensure that people are more informed and safe, and in order to do that it needs to be consulted in the first place. We certainly support this motion.
