Emergency Services

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:02): My question is again for the Minister for Emergency Services. Are current CFS regional officers included in the minister's new model of emergency service delivery, and will they be paid at the much higher rate of their equivalent rank in the MFS?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:02): As I have indicated very clearly in all the forums—and, again, it's reflected in the discussion paper—what I envisage, subject to confirmation through this process, is that the state administrative regions will be the basic administrative unit for a new organisation. Given that none of these organisations are exactly the same at the moment, there are the MFS regions—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I am getting to the question. The MFS region, the SES regions and the CFS regions don't overlap—don't actually match up. So, until we have actually done the detailed design work once the proposal goes ahead, I cannot actually—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Will they be paid the same rates?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Let me finish. The reality is the detailed design work will also design, if you like, the jobs themselves because different regions have different responsibilities. So, I am not at that point of time to actually give that information; that's some work we have to do. Having said that, that's something which I have actually made very clear at the forums. It's not something which I am saying for the first time today. Firstly, I have said that at the forums very publicly and, secondly, it is reflected in the discussion paper.

The SPEAKER: Alright; thank you, minister.