Tasmanians are Stronger Together
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, has thanked volunteers and staff ahead of a fire and emergency services community events in Tasmania today.
Minister Ellis called on Labor to back the reforms, which arise from key recommendations in multiple independent reviews, including the Blake Review and Stevens Report.
“We will be looking for bipartisan support when we take this important reform to Parliament in coming months," Minister Ellis said.
“Will Labor support establishing the role of Commissioner for TFES and give our emergency leader the authorities they need?
"Will they support a sustainable funding model for our TFES so the organisation has the funding they need for resourcing and response? Will they support bringing the TFS and SES together on a common operating platform to further unify our agencies?”
“Or will Labor once again prove that they are blockers by failing to listen to the calls for change?
“This Government wants to act on these recommendations to empower our emergency services so they can keep Tasmanians safe."
Minister Ellis also reiterated his commitment to listen and work with the community on the Government's reforms.
“Since January I have been travelling across the State to meet with Tasmania Fire Service brigades and State Emergency Service units to talk about our Stronger Together Tasmania, Fire and Emergency Services (TFES) reforms,” Minister Ellis said.
“It is abundantly obvious that our career staff and volunteers are passionate about their service and want it to be even better, and that is what we will be seeing today.
“Fundamentally, these reforms are about how can we put our service in the best possible position to save lives and keep people safe in emergencies.
“The reforms will empower our TFES, deliver a fair, sustainable funding model with ringfenced funding, and reduce bureaucracy by establishing a direct link between the Minister and the new Commissioner of TFES.
“The new Act will give the Commissioner TFES the authority and powers they need to do the job, rather than the status quo where a lot of this authority is allocated to other people or groups.”
Minister Ellis said the Rockliff Liberal Government is committed to ongoing engagement so that everyone within the Tasmania Fire Service and the State Emergency Service is fully informed about what is happening.
“We will keep listening to the voices of those who work day-in and day-out to keep Tasmanians safe from emergencies.
“Our fire and emergency services will be Stronger Together.”
For more – visit Reform - Tasmania Fire Service