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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1003 asked in the Legislative Council on 23 September 2020 by Hon Rick Mazza

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY — LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT SCHEME

1003. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the Minister for Emergency Services:

I refer to the answer given to my question without notice 997, asked on 17 September 2019, that stated that a local government grant scheme working group had been established by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services with the main function of making the LGGS process more democratic, focusing on LGGS transparency and review of the grants manual that local governments use to seek funding for their emergency services needs.

(1) When did the working group last meet?

(2) Were any changes made to the LGGS grants manual after that last meeting?

(3) If yes to (2), were all members of the working group consulted about those changes before the manual was published and distributed to local governments?

(4) If no to (3), on what date did DFES tell all members of the working group that the grants manual had been edited and published?

(5) Did any member of the LGGS working group raise concerns with DFES about not being consulted on the changes made to the grants manual; and, if so, how did DFES respond?

(6) If yes to (5), were local governments told that the changes made to the 2020–21 LGGS grants manual were not considered or endorsed by the LGGS working group?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) The working group last met on 4 October 2019.

(2) Yes.

(3)–(6) The process to update the local government grant scheme manual is an annual occurrence in preparation for the upcoming LGGS grants funding round, which commences in January each year. The manual's purpose is to inform local governments of the governance arrangements of the LGGS. The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner conducts extensive consultation with volunteer associations, which is not a statutory requirement. The Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner is not required to seek the endorsement of the working group members, as he is the authorised approving officer. All the appropriate procedures were followed throughout the process of updating the LGGS manual.