A SELECT Committee into Emergency Services Reform will commence its inquiry immediately, after it was established yesterday, February 25.
Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire called for a select committee and for the halt of the government’s search for an Emergency Services Commissioner until the inquiry was completed.
He said the inquiry was needed because of concern in the community about a number of suggested reforms and a lack of details of the plan or modelling of how structural change would affect services.
“Everyone except the government supported the motion and I thank my cross-bench colleagues for helping to get this committee established,” he said.
“What it shows is a sincere support for the many emergency sector volunteers who have lobbied for this process to be slowed until all the details are made clear.
“Reform should never be rushed through, especially when it could have a devastating impact on the community or when it has the possibility of undermining something that works well like the Country Fire Service and State Emergency Service.”
Along with Mr Brokenshire, Liberal Party MLCs John Dawkins and Andrew McLachlan, The Greens MLC Tammy Franks and Labor Party MLC Gerry Kandelaars are members of the committee.
They are expected to report to parliament by July 29.
Emergency Services Minister Tony Piccolo has labelled the Select Committee ‘political grandstanding’ and said Mr Brokenshire is just looking for political mileage about the reform process.
Mr Piccolo said the terms of reference are now irrelevant.
“The first aspect of the select committee will look at the ‘establishment of the commissioner to replace chief officers’, when on Monday I announced the revised sector model would retain the chief officer position as operational heads of the three services,” he said.
“If Mr Brokenshire is against any improvements he should simply say so.
“If he does support some reform, he should outline what he would do to improve the service to the community and support for frontline services.”
However, the establishment of the committee has been welcomed by the CFS Volunteer Association who consider the announcement chief officers nothing new.
“Should a ranked commissioner be appointed it will provide the ultimate power to control the CFS and its volunteers,” executive director Sonia St Alban said.
“A business case and rationale for implementing this reform has still not been supplied.
“After eight months of flawed consultation, ‘trust me’ is not acceptable.”
Terms of reference for the inquiry include:
a. The government establishment of the commissioner to replace chief officers in the proposed emergency services reform;
b. The process involved in consultation and what consideration was given to matter raised during consultation in developing the reform proposal;
c. The business plan;
d. Cost-benefit analysis and probity regarding the proposed reform;
e. Consideration and consultation with volunteer organisations affected by the government proposal;
f. The establishment of legal requirements for the chief officer and chief executive officer of emergency services and SAFECOM and the SAFECOM board; and
g. Any other relevant matters.
