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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 1936 ..

I express the government’s gratitude to the community, emergency workers and volunteers, and members of this Assembly for the assistance they have given and the patience and understanding they have shown during the researching and development of this bill. The coronial inquiries into the 2001 and 2003 bushfires may raise the need for changes, not only to processes in the field but also to the current approach to emergency management generally. Members should be aware that the outcomes of those inquiries may warrant additional reforms not covered in this bill, but that should not delay the current suite of reforms.

It is now time to take the next and very significant step in the reform of emergency services—the creation of the Emergency Services Authority and its management structures. The bill creates that authority and reforms emergency management across the board. In essence, it makes a number of following core changes.

The focus of the new authority’s role is clearly guided by the statement of objectives at clause 3 of the bill. In short, the authority’s role is to protect and preserve property, life and the environment and to provide for effective and cohesive management of the four emergency services. The bill also recognises the value of all emergency service workers. There is a clear statement in the object of the authority’s environmental responsibility: there must be a proper balance between planning and managing fire and emergency issues on the one hand and protection of the authority on the other.

The authority will be constituted by a single person, the emergency services commissioner. There will be no board of management. An authority headed by a board of management would be inconsistent with the recommendations of the McLeod report, which proposes that a chief executive, not a board, should head the authority and that the chief executive should report directly to the minister. The board model would detract from the authority that McLeod proposed be invested in the commissioner and would complicate lines of responsibility and accountability in any operational environment which requires absolute clarity in relation to these matters.

The authority will be responsible for the strategic direction and management of the four emergency services and for community awareness and preparedness in relation to emergencies. This will bring cohesive and flexible management to the organisation and focus the authority more directly on keeping our community more informed and ready if an emergency should arise. The commissioner will be responsible for promoting the objects of the act and for the effective management of the authority’s functions. The authority will be required to keep the minister advised on emergency capability and preparedness. It will also consult with the Bushfire Council on land management issues and the making of the strategic bushfire management plan, and advise the minister.

The bill provides for the return of the Bushfire Council as a core advisory body in fire management in the ACT. There is a requirement to have regard to essential skills when making appointments to the council, which will be restored as a direct adviser to both the minister and the authority on bushfire issues. The Bushfire Council will publish its minutes to ensure that decision-making processes are transparent and that the council and the authority are accountable for their decisions and actions.

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