Extreme Weather Conditions

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health, Minister Assisting the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:09): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: There is nothing that I and the government take more seriously than the safety of South Australians. On this day 12 months ago, South Australia was hit by an unprecedented weather event which brought multiple super cell thunderstorms, seven tornadoes, 80,000 lightning strikes and destructive winds of up to 260km/h, destroying the spine of our transmission network and sending the state's electricity network into a system black. This event occurred on the back of a number of significant storm events last year which saw the state emergency management functions swing into action time and time again.

Following this event, former police commissioner Mr Gary Burns was appointed to lead an independent review of the adequacy of the state's disaster preparedness and response. His report, containing 62 recommendations, was released on 23 January this year. I would firstly like to point out that South Australia is incredibly well served by our dedicated police and emergency services who are ready to respond at any time to an incident or emergency situation in South Australia.

This fact was confirmed by former commissioner Burns, who concluded that the statewide complex event was, in general, well managed with coordinated effective response and recovery options put in place. The review notes that during the emergency, respondents were well equipped and trained and provided a highly professional and capable response. Following the events of the magnitude which South Australia experienced at the end of September last year, there is always a lessons-learned process undertaken and the state government welcomes the opportunity to further strengthen our emergency management arrangements.

We have prioritised our response to the recommendations laid out by former commissioner Burns to ensure the state has the most up-to-date, coordinated and effective emergency management plans in place. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet has been coordinating the government's response to the review, with input and involvement from agencies right across government. Significant work has been undertaken to improve coordination and leadership across the emergency management sector, as well as working with government agencies and the business community to develop continuity plans.

Many of the recommendations in the Burns review are complex and require multiagency planning, preparation and consultation. The government is committed to ensuring that these recommendations are not implemented in an ad hoc manner but in a responsible way to ensure we deliver the most effective outcomes for the South Australian community. I am happy to provide an update on the implementation of a number of key recommendations.

In this year's budget, the government committed $3.1 million to two recommendations to streamline call management for the SES 132 500 number and 000 emergency number, and to improve call receipt management and dispatch of emergency services. Good progress has been made on the project which involves an improved call management system, staffing model and media campaign.

Our police have prepared a CBD evacuation plan. This is currently in the final stages of being completed through consultation with key stakeholders across government. The plan is extensive and would be mobilised today in the event of an emergency situation. The plan has been written not just for a blackout situation but for any event in which an evacuation might be required such as an earthquake, fire, terrorist event or some other catastrophic emergency event. This plan will not only cover CBD workers but also visitors, vulnerable people and those who reside in the city.

South Australia is recognised as having best practice processes, and this plan has been written taking into consideration new national standards and requirements. The final document will be approved by SAPOL before the end of the year. A state plan for a black system event is also well advanced and arrangements to manage critical requirements, such as access to fuel and cash in emergencies, are being developed.

I can also provide an update on the continued upgrading of intersections with uninterrupted power supply across metropolitan Adelaide, with more than 40 arterial intersections already upgraded. Work will commence shortly on further sites across the CBD and along Greenhill Road, Fullarton Road and Dequetteville Terrace. Other sites are being upgraded as part of major projects, including the O-Bahn project, Torrens to Torrens, Northern Connector and Darlington upgrade.

Further improvements that have been made following the recommendations include updating emergency management plans and guidelines, updating the procedures used to respond to severe electricity supply shortfall, improving arrangements to support vulnerable people and enhancing the training of emergency services personnel. This work has necessitated across-government coordination, and significant input and investment, from not only our emergency services agencies but many other government agencies and outside stakeholders.

I look forward to working with SAPOL, our emergency services and the wider community to ensure we continue to improve our response and recovery from emergency events. I would like to thank all of those police and emergency services workers across government who have put in significant effort to improve our capabilities.