FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES —
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
648. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to foot-and-mouth disease and reports that up to 750
additional personnel would be required to manage an outbreak in WA, the
majority of which will come from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services
and the Western Australia Police Force.
(1) How many
DFES staff in total are expected to be required in the event of an outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease or lumpy skin disease in WA?
Hon Alannah MacTiernan: This is just verbal. No-one
ever said that.
Hon Nick Goiran: I'd like to hear the
question!
The PRESIDENT: And I would like some order, thank you
very much.
Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE: I can always start again. I continue.
(2) What duties will DFES staff be undertaking to manage an
outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease?
(3) What
planning and preparation has been undertaken to ensure DFES operations and
community safety is not significantly impacted by staff redeployments?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The premise of the honourable
member's question is incorrect. The Minister for Agriculture and Food
has made clear that the majority of additional personnel required to manage a potential
outbreak would be resourced from the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development and not from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services
or WA police. DFES is ready to actively engage and support in any way
necessary.
(1) DFES has
provided details of its nominated agency liaison officer to DPIRD, with any
additional staff subject to a request for assistance from the hazard management
agency.
(2) Duties will
be subject to the magnitude of the emergency. When requested by the HMA and in
accordance with the state emergency management arrangements, DFES may: provide
liaison officers and other trained staff as required and appropriate;
facilitate resources and telecommunications as required; provide and/or assist
in the acquisition of appropriate protective equipment and personnel to assist
with detection, sampling or surveillance activities where the use of
self-contained breathing apparatus is required; and facilitate DFES personnel and volunteers to assist with operational
activities during the response, as necessary.
(3) DFES
regularly supports other agencies with emergency management and continually analyses
risks and readiness to ensure a timely and effective response. DFES is working
closely with DPIRD and other agencies to determine what type of support might
be required.