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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-08 Daily Xml
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MINISTERIAL COUNCIL FOR POLICE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about broad emergency management cooperation between South Australia, other states and the commonwealth.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I notice that emergency services ministers recently attended a meeting in Canberra. Is the minister able to provide any information about the purpose of the meeting and its outcomes?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his important question. On 26 March the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management met for the first time since the federal election. This council is a forum of state and territory emergency services ministers as well as the Australian Local Government Association, and it is chaired by the federal Attorney-General.

Obviously, emergency services chief executives (or commissioners or directors-general) attend, so it is an opportunity to further strengthen the bonds that exist between the services in the different states and territories. These bonds, and the cooperation that exists between the states, territories and commonwealth, are crucial in times of major incidents which require assistance from interstate colleagues. In a further strengthening of the bonds, the council welcomed New Zealand as a new member through its relevant minister, the Hon. Rick Barker, who is the Minister for Civil Defence. New Zealand and Australia will work closely together to enhance the urban search and rescue (USAR) capacity in the region.

As is to be expected, the forum is important for the exchange of information, collaboration on programs and policy contributions at a national level, and I would like to take the opportunity to update council members on specific initiatives that have previously been raised in this chamber. The council was asked, with respect to the emergency management strategy for remote indigenous communities 'Keeping Our Mob Safe', to move from a policy position to an implementation position. Mr David Place, the Commissioner of Fire and Emergencies in South Australia, chairs the Australian Emergency Management Committee's Remote Indigenous Communities Advisory Committee, and this national strategy aims to build the emergency management capacity of remote communities based on the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PPRR) model.

Some initiatives undertaken at the state level include an analysis of the environment, needs, expectations and understanding of Aboriginal communities with respect to emergency management. Consultation and work has been undertaken with five communities as part of preparing community emergency risk management plans. This work has resulted in a strengthening of the relationship with the Aboriginal Lands Trust, which has asked SAFECOM to assist it to prepare applications for funding under the 'Working Together to Manage Emergencies' program. It is important that we put in place strategies which are appropriate for remote Aboriginal communities, and it is no surprise to me that women in these communities have been identified as playing a key role in building community emergency management capacity.

Given both the societal and environmental impacts on volunteer numbers Australia-wide, the council has asked the Australian Emergency Management Committee to report on ways we can better recognise, recruit and, importantly, retain volunteers. South Australia has already developed its own 'Four Rs' package to recognise the contribution of emergency services volunteers and their employers in this state, and I informed members of this important program in March.

The council also recommended implementing a national standard for the introduction of reduced fire risk, or reduced ignition propensity, cigarettes by early 2009. These cigarettes self-extinguish when not being smoked. The ministerial council noted the development of an Australian standard, based on the standard adopted in the United States and Canada, to test self-extinguishing properties. The federal Treasurer will now be asked to amend the Trade Practices Act 1974 to prescribe a mandatory safety standard in relation to reduced fire risk cigarettes. That safety standard, which will be applied to all cigarettes manufactured in or imported into Australia, will be that no more than 25 per cent of cigarettes tested in accordance with the Australian standard will exhibit a full-length burn.

The ACCC has produced a publication for public comment on the draft regulation statement, 'The Regulation of Reduced Fire Risk Cigarettes under the Trade Practices Act 1974'. This is a move that is strongly supported by our fire services, as it will make cigarette butts less likely to start a fire, either in a personal setting when left unattended or a bushfire when discarded.

Data from the Australian Incident Reporting System (AIRS) shows that there are over 4,500 fires caused by cigarettes and smoking materials annually throughout the country—more than 12 fires per day. Given the fire risk and, therefore, the public safety risk—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: —the member is an embarrassment if he is not interested in something like this—the council expressed concern at the likely timetable for the proposed regulation to be put in place (2010) and brought forward the timeline. The federal Treasurer is to be asked to progress this matter as a matter of urgency with a view to its being enforced by the beginning of 2009. As these important developments progress further, I will keep members informed.

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