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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (19 August) . . Page.. 2784 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

However, it has to be kept in mind that this is a complex issue. The McLeod report itself intentionally does no more than outline a general concept. It may not be possible to satisfy the desires of everyone who has an interest, simply because of conflicting agendas or opposition to non-negotiable features. That said, the government will make every effort to have its consultation processes accepted as genuine and effective.

A further complexity of developing a suitable model is the need to respond also to Mr McLeod's recommendations about legislative change. Some of the work in developing the model will depend, for example, on the outcomes of reviews of the Bushfire Act and the Emergency Management Act. Some elements will require sensitive negotiation with affected groups, for instance, in deciding an appropriate command structure to sit over the two fire agencies. Inevitably, that will take time to negotiate and develop properly.

However, hasty decision making can lead to flaws that would be difficult to correct later, and the government will proceed with caution so that it gets it right. This important task will be managed by the chief executives' task force, led by the head of the Chief Minister's Department. The task force will be supported by a small full-time secretariat.

The government believes that this process will ensure that the knowledge, skills and abilities of all services are preserved and enhanced to ensure that the objectives that Mr McLeod has set out for the new authority are achieved. The recommendations of the task force and the outcomes of the consultative process will be referred to the government for decision.

The government has determined that a commissioner will head the new authority. As recommended by the inquiry, the government has taken urgent action to scope, advertise and fill the position on a contract basis as soon as possible, so that the new commissioner may assist in the necessary relevant transitional processes and the formulation of required legislation.

The position was advertised on 16 August 2003, with applications to close in two weeks and the position will be filled as soon as possible. I've requested this be done in weeks and not months. The government has set 1 July 2004 as a reasonable target for the completion of all reviews of all relevant legislation and the commencement of the new authority, with its supporting legislation.

A great deal of the required operational and cultural change can occur before this date. Mr Speaker, the tabling of this government response to the McLeod report signals yet another milestone on the road to recovery after the bushfires for the Canberra community, and the continuation of the path to discovering the opportunities that are before us.

Our capacity to withstand serious emergencies in the future has been strengthened, and we are now underpinning this capacity with more resources, training, communications, equipment and systems and with initiatives designed to provide better and more effective services and protection to the community.

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