Legislative Council, Tuesday 19 November 2024

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to Tasmanian State Emergency Services (SES) funding and resources:

1. What is SES’s total budget
(a) Please break down the components of the total funding for operating expenses, including:

(i) staff salaries
(ii) training including statewide training and events
(iii) Personal Protective Clothing (PPC) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) equipment
(iv) other equipment including vehicles
(v) other miscellaneous expenses.
(b) Please break down the components of the total capital expenditure funding.

2. How much does it cost to train, and equip, an individual volunteer with the necessary PPC (overall or two piece uniform), and PPE (helmet/safety glasses/gloves)?

3. In the last three years, have there been:
a. any requests for additional funding from the SES for PPE or other related equipment
b. Have any of these requests been approved;
c. if so, when and for how much;
d. if not, why was the request rejected?

4. Is all currently used SES equipment, including helmets to use when working at height, compliant with Australian standards?

5. With the recent storm events highlighting the dedication and commitment of our SES volunteers, what provisions are being made to ensure growth in volunteer numbers to support communities for future events?

6. How many operational staff (those that provide support and management to volunteers as they perform their everyday duties, storm and other similar events) are there in each region (North West, North and South)?

7. Have all new volunteers throughout the State received the requisite training?

8. Will there be any additional funding support provided to Tasmanian SES to enable the SES to deliver the training, equipment and services required; and if so, how much additional funding, and when will it be provided?

9. With regard to the $3 million provided over 4 years for SES vehicles – will this funding simply bring the legacy aging fleet up to AFAC standards; and if so, what extra funding will be required each year thereafter to remain within standards and replace vehicles as required?

 
ANSWER:

1. The SES recurrent budget is $5,421,533.
1a
(i) $4,527,897
(ii) $52,000
(iii) $95,800
(iv) Vehicle parts and management - $86,528
(v) $229,265

1b SES does not have a capital budget outside of a proportion of election commitment funding under the Volunteer Infrastructure Investment Fund.

2 Approximately $2,600 inclusive of PPC, training, equipment, technology and licenses.

3a Yes.

3b Yes.

3c 22/23 Budget
$260,000

24/25 Budget
$220,000 over four years.
$300,000 over two years, plus $10,000.

3d Unknown.

4. A risk assessment is currently being conducted.

5. The Volunteer Strategy and Support Unit (VSSU) is working to grow volunteer numbers. This includes the development of a media campaign that is due for release in 2025 to boost volunteer recruitment.

6. There are four staff in each region (North-West, North and South) as follows:
• Regional Manager
• Regional Officer
• Regional Training Officer
• Regional Administration Support Officer

7. New volunteers undertake a sequence of training as follows: onboarding, induction, core and training.
Depending upon the availability and the mode which the volunteer entered the organisation, volunteers may be at different stages across this continuum.

8 SES is working with the Fire and Emergency Service Commissioner and DPFEM regarding funding.

9 The funding will bring the SES fleet profile closer to AFAC standards for age by vehicle type. It is estimated that approximately $1.4 million is required annually to maintain the SES fleet age profile.