Page 3151 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 August 2005
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ago. It is now a freestanding, independent, well-trained, proud organisation that stands on its own.
Mr Pratt: Three years since the wake-up call in Bali, Jon.
MR STANHOPE: A decision was taken this week, conveyed through an email that was quoted from yesterday, that reflects the fact that the Commissioner for Emergency Services has now, as of this week, in consequence of the stage reached in the development of the evacuation strategy for the ACT, invested in the SES a major responsibility for the ongoing implementation—
Mr Pratt: Why has it taken so long?
MR STANHOPE: of the evacuation strategy, a responsibility which, until today, had been primarily borne by the urban fire service. But we now have another highly skilled, highly trained, independent unit in the SES which now, for the first time, has the commissioner’s authority and the capacity, in addition to the work it traditionally carries out in relation to storm and flood, to involve itself in evacuation planning for all hazards, including, of course, terrorist incidents. It will now be the front line in terms of community consultation around the development of individual evacuation plans.
MR SPEAKER: The minister’s time has expired.
MR PRATT: I ask a supplementary question. Chief Minister, if the SES says that, in fact, they have just been charged with developing the evacuation plans, the terrorist threat evacuation plans, why are you claiming that plans have already been developed?
MR STANHOPE: I just answered that.
Mr Pratt: No, no, no.
MR STANHOPE: It is because those plans, the evacuation plans, to date have been the primary responsibility of the urban fire service.
Mr Pratt: And they have not been written, have they?
MR STANHOPE: We have more than one unit involved.
Mr Pratt: And you do not have them.
MR STANHOPE: Up until now, Mr Pratt, the primary responsibility for much of the work that has been done in relation to evacuation plans was the responsibility of the urban fire service, as distinct from the SES. As of this week, the SES has taken over from the urban fire service.
Mr Pratt: Too late.
MR STANHOPE: Are we right now, up to date? Got that? Sunk in?
Mr Pratt: Too late.
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