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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1816 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, the committee agrees with these views and was pleased to hear the Government during the inquiry concede the point that their consultation process was inappropriate. It was very surprising, Mr Speaker, considering that the Government in place came in on promises of being open and consultative. There is that word again.

The second recommendation notes the loss of identity of the ACT Emergency Service in the amalgamation and recommends that this service be given the lead role in storm damage and flooding within the ACT. As I have already noted, the ACT Emergency Service has never had a lead role, as they have always performed a support role. However, given the quality of personnel that this service has on hand and the outstanding training that they receive, the committee feels it would be appropriate for them to have the responsibility for the lead role in storm and flood emergencies. I look forward to hearing back from the Government on that one.

Recommendations 3 and 4 address the use of equipment the service has on hand and more suitable equipment - especially vehicles - that needs to be purchased. Recommendation 5 addresses the need for ACT Emergency Service operations to be covered by legislation. To date, there is no legislation covering ACT Emergency Service activities and therefore no legal basis for claims for personal injury or protection against liability claims for damage. The committee noted that the bushfire service is covered by this type of legislation, and similar legislation for the ACT Emergency Service will, I am sure, prevent problems in years to come.

The final recommendation covers the introduction of a system of public recognition for emergency service and bushfire service volunteers. Given the thousands of hours put into this form of community service, the committee agrees that it is appropriate for these volunteers to be publicly honoured after five and 10 years of service.

Mr Speaker, as a final comment, the committee notes the offer made by the Minister, Mr Humphries, to the Assembly that, if the committee found the restructuring process inappropriate and the Assembly shared the view, he would be happy either to scrap it wholesale or change it significantly. While the committee was not impressed with the way these two services have been pushed together, if the Government implements the recommendations of this report we will not oppose the restructuring at this stage.

Mr Speaker, in summary, I do not know whether this report will please everybody. I am sure that it will not please some members of the Emergency Service, especially from the Belconnen depot; but all members feel that we gave them a fair hearing. We gave all sides a fair hearing. I would like to thank my other committee members for the time that went into it. As I said earlier, it was a very passionate issue and one that certainly got the blood boiling with a number of people, but I feel that we have put together a fair report. My thanks once again go to our secretary, Beth Irvin, for the work that she has put into this report, which I now commend to the Assembly.

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