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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1016 asked in the Legislative Council on 13 October 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Minister for Education and Training
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 1814- View tabled paper


Question

I refer to the implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) on 1 September 2022, and I ask:
(a) please identify and table relevant Department of Education policies that reference the rating system;
(b) please identify the threshold and related policies for school closures during periods of significant fire risk;
(c) please table any document identified in (b); and
(d) please summarise the policy which existed prior to 1 September 2022 and how this was amended to reflect the new AFDRS?

Answered on 15 November 2022

(a)  

The Incident Management on Department of Education Sites policy requires all Department of Education employees to comply with the Incident Management Manual available on the Department’s intranet. This manual directs principals whose schools are in the Bushfire Zone Register to the Principal’s Guide to Bushfire which refers to the rating system.

[Refer tabled paper No       ].

 

(b)

In line with the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System that was introduced on 1 September 2022, the Department of Education has adjusted the threshold for pre-emptive closure of public schools and worksites to a Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) of Extreme 75 or greater. This adjustment equates to the previous Catastrophic fire danger rating of 100+.

 

(c)   [Refer tabled paper No        ].

 

(d)

Prior to 1 September 2022, public schools and worksites listed on the Bushfire Zone Register as Very High or Extreme may have closed in the event of a Catastrophic fire danger rating being forecast. The previous Principal's Guide to Bushfire detailed the process by which pre-emptive closure was invoked. On 30 August, principals were advised of the introduction of the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System. The Department has since consulted with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to determine an appropriate threshold for pre-emptive closure. As part of this consultation, it was determined that the trigger for the pre-emptive closure of public schools and worksites may now occur when a threshold of Extreme FBI of 75 or greater has been forecast. This is consistent with all other States and Territories in Australia. This adjustment equates to the previous Catastrophic fire danger rating of 100+. Pre-emptive closure only applies to public schools and worksites located in a fire weather district where the Extreme FBI of 75 or greater has been forecast. The Principal's Guide to Bushfire has been amended and has been updated on the Department's intranet to reflect the change.