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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1180 asked in the Legislative Council on 1 December 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

I refer to Legislative Council question without notice 1285 in relation to the procurement of a second Large Air Tanker (LAT) for the southern bushfire season, and I ask:
(a) who made the verbal request to the Commonwealth for a second LAT and on what date was the request made;
(b) is it normal for the State Government to make such significant requests verbally;
(c) which Commonwealth official or representative received the request and has the request been determined;
(d) if the request has been determined on what date was a decision made, a response received and what was the response;
(e) what additional costs will the State Government incur if a second LAT is deployed to Western Australia;
(f) what will be the operating period and operating base for the second LAT if deployed to Western Australia; and
(g) what is the expected cost of the West Australian LAT announced in the last State Budget?

Answered on 14 February 2023

(a)   Decisions about placement of the National Large Air Tanker (NLAT) are determined through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC). I requested the second LAT be positioned in WA at the National Emergency Management Ministers' Meeting on 19th September 2022.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is the State representative on the NAFC Strategic Committee.  Based on the forecast Hight Threat Period risk in Western Australia (WA), the Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Commissioner, also verbally requested the NLAT for WA to boost capability of the aerial firefighting fleet which includes the first State Government funded LAT to be permanently based here.

(b)   Strong relationships and strong advocacy are a fundamental role of a good State Government.

(c)   There were discussions at the Commonwealth Ministers’ meeting. DFES made a formal request to the NAFC Strategic Committee, and it was determined the initial placement of the NLAT, based on forecast risk, was in WA.

(d)   Advice about the placement of the NLAT in Western Australia for an initial period of 30 days effective 15 December 2022 was provided to the FES Commissioner on 23 November 2022.

(e)   The State Government will incur the transit costs of the aircraft from NSW to WA and the cost of the crew accommodation.  Operating costs when deployed to incidents are also incurred by the State Government.

(f)    The NLAT has been based at the Busselton Margaret River Airport from 15 December 2022 until 15 February 2023.  Prior to the end of the current period, the positioning of the NLAT will be reviewed by the NAFC Strategic Committee based on present and developing risk across Australia.

(g)   $11 million over 4 years.