Released 25/07/2017
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman, will today attend the start of a series of roundtable meetings to discuss enhancements to the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA).
“Today marks the 14th anniversary of the 2003 Canberra Bushfires. It is therefore a fitting day to commence these consultation meetings, which are an important opportunity to continue to formalise individual lessons learned since 18 January 2003 and build further resilience within the organisation and the ACT community,” Minister Gentleman said.
“None of us want to see what occurred back then, ever happen again. The ACT Government listened to the advice that came from the McLeod and Doogan Coronial inquiries on how to best avoid the consequences of severe and extreme fire weather in the future. These lessons led to significant changes in emergency preparedness and response in the Territory but this doesn’t mean the government and the ESA can afford to just stand still.
“We need to continue to evolve and ensure the ESA is operating in a cohesive manner and continuing to deliver the best service to the ACT community.
“The roundtable meetings provide all ESA staff and volunteers with an opportunity to provide ideas and feedback to the government on the best way to achieve this,” Minister Gentleman said.
“The government committed to holding the roundtable meetings as part of the Parliamentary Agreement for ongoing consultation with initial work to commence within 100 days of the Government commencing the new term. I am very pleased to say that today is the first of four of these events that will be held by the ESA,” Minister Gentleman said.
“The ACT Government is committed to making our community safer. This was confirmed by the funding increases in the budget for emergency services. This Government will continue its commitment to protect the people who protect us, giving our emergency services workers the resources they need to do their job and look after the people we care about,” Minister Gentleman concluded.
The other roundtable meetings will be conducted on 7 February 2017, 5 March 2017 and 17 March 2017.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases