AMBULANCE RAMPING
482. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to consideration by the
Premier of utilising firefighters to bolster ambulance services in Western Australia.
(1) When was the minister first
made aware of the Premier's plan?
(2) When was the
Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Services first made aware of the Premier's
plan?
(3) What was the rate of furlough
for career firefighters for Sunday, 15 May, by —
(a) day shift;
(b) night shift?
(4) What work has been done to date
to implement the Premier's plan?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services and other organisations have been in
regular contact throughout the COVID-19 pandemic on how they can support and
assist one another. In February of this year, DFES and St John Ambulance held
discussions about how DFES staff and volunteers could be used to support the St
John Ambulance service.
(3) Nil.
(4) Senior
Department of Health and WA Police Force representatives will be stationed at
St John Ambulance headquarters to assist the service. This is designed to
ensure appropriate coordination of the emergency response during the current
phase of the pandemic, providing certainty to the government and the public
during the current Omicron wave. Commencing on Friday, 20 May, 48 career
firefighters will begin to receive St John Ambulance familiarisation training.