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
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
1942
1942
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
1942
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
courtesy DFES Heritage Collection
Fire Brigades Act 1942
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
1954
1954
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
courtesy DFES Heritage Collection
Bush Fires Act 1954
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
1998
Fire and Emergency Services Authority
of Western Australia Act 1998
(now renamed the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998)
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Background:� October 2006 – CDJSC’s Report on the
Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation
Since this report…
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Review process:
1. Preliminary Consultation (this phase)
2. Development of Draft Options Paper
3. Consultation of Draft Options Paper
4. Parliamentary Drafting Process
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Functions:
� Clearly sets out agency functions to ensure
that overlaps and potential conflicts can be
recognised and managed
Hot Topics
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
How do we look after our volunteers?
� What are the challenges and opportunities
that arise within the changing landscape?
Hot Topics
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Training:
� How do we address challenges and
opportunities with regard to training career
and volunteer personnel?
Hot Topics
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Fuel load management and enforcement:� Gazetted districts
� DEC-managed lands
� Unallocated Crown Land
� Remote Indigenous Communities
Hot Topics
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
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?
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Contact us:
Michelle SmithA/Project Manager
(08) 9395 9763
Taryn BootAdministration Officer
(08) 9395 9596
DFES Legislation Review
Emergency Services Complex
20 Stockton Bend
Cockburn Central
PERTH WA 6164
PO Box P1174
PERTH WA 6844
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services
How do we keep you informed:
� What are the best ways to keep you
updated?
Emergency Services Legislation
Government of Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services