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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-28 Daily Xml
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WANGARY FIRES

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about the Wangary fires.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: The inquest into the Wangary fires was conducted over many months by the Deputy Coroner, Mr Schapel, and he finally handed down his 600-page series of recommendations in December 2007. The CFS was represented by counsel throughout that inquest and made extensive submissions, as were a number of other government agencies and private organisations and individuals.

In the budget papers and in estimates over the past couple of years there have been some statements about expenditure by government agencies—principally, I believe, the Attorney-General's Department—as to the costs of representation at the inquest. However, so far as I am aware, the government has not yet revealed the total cost incurred by the government and government agencies in relation to the inquest. My questions to the minister are: what was the total amount incurred by the CFS in relation to its representation before the coronial inquest and what was the cost incurred by other government agencies (and I appreciate she will have to obtain advice on this) for the same purposes?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): The honourable member is correct: I do not have all those figures with me in relation to other agencies. Yes, of course, the CFS was represented. Clearly, cabinet has always approved funding to ensure that the CFS was well represented at the inquest—and, in particular, our volunteer representation—because our legislation provides protection for our volunteers. It has been a long-held tradition that volunteers are indemnified from prosecution with respect to any civil or criminal charges when going about their duties honestly, and the government made a commitment to provide legal support to volunteers during the coronial inquest. As I said, representation was provided by the Crown. Every volunteer was offered the opportunity to apply to the Crown for representation during preparation for appearance and whilst appearing before the Coroner. Some volunteers had individual circumstances generally relating to property damage, which meant that other legal representation was more appropriate to best protect their interests.

The South Australia Volunteer Fire Brigades Association (VFBA), as it was then known, was closely involved in determining the most appropriate legal assistance for these individuals, and through the VFBA the government met the costs associated with providing legal assistance to these volunteers in preparation for and during their appearance at the inquest.

Every volunteer who applied to the Crown for representation has been represented, either directly by the Crown or, in the case of individual circumstances, through the association—all funded by the government. I will not discuss any individual legal circumstances of specific people; that would not be appropriate.

Additional funding was also approved to allow for elected officials from the association to be in Port Lincoln to lend moral support to the volunteers involved. I think I have already placed this on the public record, but the government has provided the CFS with additional funding of $517,000 in 2005-06 and $231,000 in 2006-07 to cover inquest costs, including costs associated with attending the inquest and legal representation.

Funding of $196,000 was also provided to the association to cover legal representation, attendance costs and costs incurred in supporting the volunteers involved in the inquest process. If there is any part that I have not covered in my response, particularly in relation to other agencies, I will ensure that I bring back a response to the honourable member.

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