Power OutageS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:30): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking questions to the Minister for Emergency Services in relation to the power outage.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The police commissioner, in his capacity as the state coordinator, declared a major incident yesterday using his powers under the Emergency Management Act 2004. My questions to the minister are:

1. At what time was the major incident declared, and in what form was it promulgated?

2. When has the State Emergency Management Committee met in regard to this incident, both before and during?

3. Will minutes of those meetings be publicly released?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:31): The honourable member is quite right, and I thank him for his question. The police commissioner, yesterday afternoon, as the state controller, did declare yesterday's incident as a major incident. That declaration took effect from 5.30pm yesterday afternoon, and the appropriate paperwork ensued.

The Emergency Management Council is the body the honourable member is referring to. That has met on multiple occasions. It met, most recently, at 9.30am this morning. Another meeting has been scheduled for 5pm this afternoon. Two meetings took place yesterday—or it may have been three meetings yesterday; I'm just trying to collate that together from memory. There was one yesterday evening at 9pm; there was one earlier in the evening—and I'll get the precise time and make that available—and there was also a State Emergency Council meeting convened yesterday morning, which was held here at Parliament House.