Page 382 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 2 March 1994
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The ACT contingent was deployed in various areas of Sydney, all with great success because of their experience and self-sufficiency. Initially, the group worked in the Marsfield region, and then undertook operations in Chatswood, Turramurra, North Ryde, Terrey Hills, Pittwater, Narrabeen, Como, Mona Vale, Hawkesbury and St Albans. The separate organisation worked extremely well together. Their operations were based on the understanding that whatever was required in the way of firefighting the group would respond to and deal with, using the expertise of the various members to the best advantage.
A total of 211 personnel, consisting of 72 Rural Firefighting Service staff, 92 ACT Fire Brigade staff, 36 emergency services staff, seven ambulance staff, three mechanics and one emergency management group communications officer, took part in firefighting operations in and around Sydney from 6 to 15 January 1994. Many more staff and volunteers provided invaluable support behind the scenes, and without their assistance the ACT task force would not have been as effective as they were. The creation of the task force was an innovative arrangement for the ACT and clearly demonstrated a capacity to put together a joint force geared to meeting an emergency rather than rely on traditional boundaries of expertise. The exercise tested the resources and capabilities of all ACT services but showed that it can be done, and a number of ideas for further improvement have been brought forward.
The services are very self-critical because of their high professionalism and the need to review each incident. We have much to learn from such incidents, including debriefings being conducted in the ACT and interstate. I would expect that findings of the New South Wales coroner will also provide the ACT with information on how operations can be improved. In a healthy organisation such internal reviews are used productively to make improvements, and that is certainly the Government's view, as I understand it. In the case of the task force, the various statements by representatives of each of the services at the Civic reception were refreshing, with strong mutual support and recognition of integrated teamwork evident.
The ACT's contribution has been recognised from many quarters, with congratulations being received from the Premier of New South Wales, the State Minister for Police and Emergency Services, emergency authorities, local councils and, importantly, Mr Koperberg, and also direct from individual members of the community of New South Wales. All praised the professionalism and commitment of our front-line volunteers. It is also important that we recognise those who assisted with the logistics or provided office support and operational management expertise. Many of the people behind the scenes spent long hours under pressure to make the support relevant and appropriate and demonstrated a strong commitment to meet and cope with problems.
As I said earlier, I understand from the Government that they are conscious of the need to improve the operation of all our emergency services. The lessons learnt from incidents such as the New South Wales bushfires should not be lost. The Government is committed to ensure that improvements already in train continue. Members will recall that on 23 September 1992 the Minister announced that the Fire Brigade, Rural Firefighting Service and emergency services would be combined into one administrative organisation, but with each service retaining its individual operational identities and statutory responsibilities.
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