Page 2605 - Week 08 - Thursday, 14 August 2014
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have off-road and bushfire capability. In the lead-up to the start of the season let us get off on the right foot by making it abundantly clear that the RFS is not at threat or at risk of integration. The minister will have ample time when he responds to make that abundantly clear.
The other issues that were asked about during estimates included the culture review that is going on in the Ambulance Service. I understand that was due by the end of August. So it is certainly in the home straight for that and we look forward with interest to the report. This is a report that is long overdue.
There is an old saying that the fish rots from the head. We have had so much trouble inside Fire & Rescue and we have had difficulties with, as the union, the TWU, called it, the toxic culture of management inside the Ambulance Service that we do have to ask: what has the minister been doing to ensure that his portfolios are run properly? When you have two key services, the two full-time services of the Emergency Services Agency, under a cloud like this, I think it is unfortunate, it has gone on too long and it shows the level of negligence of this minister.
We also asked questions about the defibrillators. There were five clinical safety alerts and six other alerts, which is a lot for a lifesaving product that you would think would operate from day one. Again, the implementation of that and the way the minister responded I think have been less than satisfactory.
We need to look at things like the CFUs, the community fire units. I acknowledge Ms Porter is a member of her local community fire unit. Recommendation 112 says:
The Committee recommends that the ACT Government ensure that the Community Fire Units and the Farm Fire Wise program receive adequate resources to enable them to effectively fulfil their functions.
The government response again is:
Noted.
It is dismissed by the government. The response continues:
The ACT Government currently provides appropriate ongoing funding to Community Fire Units and the Farm Wise Program.
It would be interesting for the minister to stand up and say that he believes that the funding that is currently received is adequate to enable them to effectively fulfil all of their functions, and I look forward to the minister’s answer on that one as well.
There are a number of issues here. There certainly is a lot of work to do, and I think the highlight, if there was a highlight, of the estimates was that the minister was able to report—he finally had a smile on his face—being able to deliver a capital works program not just on time but a little earlier than it was due and a lot cheaper. I would like to congratulate the team who have been putting that work together. Dr Mark Doverty, Mr Hammond and the team, full marks. To be able to deliver these projects
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