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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1216 asked in the Legislative Council on 4 November 2020 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY — REVENUE

1216. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the Minister for Emergency Services:

I refer to the minister's answer to question without notice 956 asked on 17 September 2020. When he was asked, ''Is the indicated reduction of ESL revenue due to this year's revaluation of the gross rental value or unimproved value of properties by the WA Valuer-General?'', the minister answered no. I refer also to the Legislative Assembly estimates of 22 October 2020, when the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner was recorded as saying —

The decision by government to keep the ESL rate rise at zero per cent meant that once the revaluation of the metropolitan area from a gross rental value was done, which occurs on a rolling three-year cycle as I understand it, there was a reduction in GRV of circa 10 per cent. That meant, effectively, the ESL was reduced, which led to that figure.

(1) Has the minister or the commissioner misled the Parliament in their conflicting answers?

(2) If no to (1), why not?

(3) If no to (1), why is the ESL revenue collected expected to be down by $34 million?

(4) Will the minister guarantee that no emergency brigade or service will have a reduction in funding in 2020–21 compared with 2019–20 despite this reduction in income?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank Hon Dr Steve Thomas for some notice of the question.

(1) No.

(2) The reason for the reduction in emergency services levy revenue this year is due to a government decision to freeze the ESL rates at 2019–20 levels.

(3) Applying 2019–20 ESL rates to 2020–21 gross rental values, which have decreased overall as a result of the revaluation by the WA Valuer-General, has resulted in less ESL revenue being raised this year. Had the freeze in ESL not been applied, ESL rates would have been adjusted in 2020–21 to offset the impact of the decrease in gross rental values and ensure that there would not be a shortfall in revenue.

(4) Yes. DFES' overall funding has not been reduced and thus there will be no impact on the delivery of emergency services. The shortfall in funding from this year's ESL revenue has been met by a state government appropriation to DFES.