The WA State Cabinet has formally approved the drafting of legislation to abolish the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) and restructure it as a department of the State Government.

 

Emergency Services Minister Troy Buswell said the overriding intention of this legislative change was to ensure that the State’s emergency services response is directly accountable to Government.

 

“As a result of this change, a new position of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner will be created, which will have similar command and control capabilities to a police commissioner, and which will report to the Emergency Services Minister.”

 

The legislative changes will also empower the Minister to establish a new advisory committee, which will be required to have volunteer representation.

 

Mr Buswell said other legislative changes to related Acts would also be progressed as a matter of urgency.

 

“The Bush Fires Act 1954 will be amended so police can independently use the powers of the Act when assisting at a bushfire, in line with recommendation 31 of the Keelty Review,” he said.

 

“We will also make amendments to the Emergency Management Act 2005 to allow the chair of the State Emergency Coordination Group to declare an emergency situation, and also to extend the powers of all police acting in emergency areas.”