Published Saturday, 22 December, 2007 at 05:10 PM
Minister for Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service review
The Department of Emergency Services will review the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) in the New Year to ensure the Service is maximising its record resources on the frontline.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said while his immediate priority was the implementation of the Government’s response to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) audit, he wanted to be reassured QFRS was prioritising its frontline resources.
“In line with the Premier’s determination to ensure resources are allocated where they should be, I want to be reassured that we are maximising resources on the frontline,” Mr Roberts said.
The QFRS was allocated a record $360.1 million in 2007-08, an increase of $36 million.
“Queenslanders are well served by the dedicated men and women serving with the QFRS. I believe the QFRS is performing well,” Mr Roberts said.
“Indeed, fire stations staffed by full-time personnel responded to 97.6% of incidents within the 14-minute benchmark. The target is 90% The average response time was seven minutes and six seconds.”
“Like any emergency service, the QFRS must continue to focus on the frontline – fighting fires, attending road accidents and other rescues, and responding to chemical and hazardous material incidents.”
The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services this year found QFRS’s level of firefighting personnel compared to total staff was above the national average of 73%.
“QFRS is unique as it also has extensive compliance and enforcement responsibilities. It has staff working in critical areas, such as building fire safety, compliance for budget accommodation, residential care and most recently smoke alarms which are now compulsory in all Queensland residences.”
“I believe a separate internal review of the QFRS is appropriate to reassure me that resources are focussed on the frontline and in other critical areas, such as compliance.”
Mr Roberts said he had asked the Director-General of the Department of Emergency Services Jim McGowan to start the review next month in consultation with QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson. Before the work starts, the Director-General will discuss the review process with the relevant unions.
“I want the preliminary work of this review to also consider how the QFRS will respond to Queensland’s continued growth, climate change, advances in firefighting and rescue technology and practices, improvements in the workplace, health and safety of staff, and the evolution of fire safety regulation.”
Mr Roberts said while the emphasis on frontline resourcing was shared by the QAS and QFRS, the challenges facing the State’s ambulance and its fire and rescue services were quite different.
“There has been an unprecedented growth for demand in ambulance services in recent years. That has not been the case for QFRS,” Mr Roberts said.
“The number of call-outs for Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has remained comparatively stable increasing by 9.7% over the last five years – an average of less than 2% per annum - compared to the massive increase of 46% for the QAS over the same five-year period.”
In 2006-07, the number of QFRS call-outs was 65,252 or an average of 178 each day. In 2001-02, QFRS responded to 59,484 call-outs or an average of 162 each day.
“Importantly, the response times for urban fire crews have dramatically improved over that five-year period. This is an outstanding tribute to the dedicated and professional officers of the QFRS.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Brendan Connell - 3247 8992, 0437 837 976
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said while his immediate priority was the implementation of the Government’s response to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) audit, he wanted to be reassured QFRS was prioritising its frontline resources.
“In line with the Premier’s determination to ensure resources are allocated where they should be, I want to be reassured that we are maximising resources on the frontline,” Mr Roberts said.
The QFRS was allocated a record $360.1 million in 2007-08, an increase of $36 million.
“Queenslanders are well served by the dedicated men and women serving with the QFRS. I believe the QFRS is performing well,” Mr Roberts said.
“Indeed, fire stations staffed by full-time personnel responded to 97.6% of incidents within the 14-minute benchmark. The target is 90% The average response time was seven minutes and six seconds.”
“Like any emergency service, the QFRS must continue to focus on the frontline – fighting fires, attending road accidents and other rescues, and responding to chemical and hazardous material incidents.”
The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services this year found QFRS’s level of firefighting personnel compared to total staff was above the national average of 73%.
“QFRS is unique as it also has extensive compliance and enforcement responsibilities. It has staff working in critical areas, such as building fire safety, compliance for budget accommodation, residential care and most recently smoke alarms which are now compulsory in all Queensland residences.”
“I believe a separate internal review of the QFRS is appropriate to reassure me that resources are focussed on the frontline and in other critical areas, such as compliance.”
Mr Roberts said he had asked the Director-General of the Department of Emergency Services Jim McGowan to start the review next month in consultation with QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson. Before the work starts, the Director-General will discuss the review process with the relevant unions.
“I want the preliminary work of this review to also consider how the QFRS will respond to Queensland’s continued growth, climate change, advances in firefighting and rescue technology and practices, improvements in the workplace, health and safety of staff, and the evolution of fire safety regulation.”
Mr Roberts said while the emphasis on frontline resourcing was shared by the QAS and QFRS, the challenges facing the State’s ambulance and its fire and rescue services were quite different.
“There has been an unprecedented growth for demand in ambulance services in recent years. That has not been the case for QFRS,” Mr Roberts said.
“The number of call-outs for Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has remained comparatively stable increasing by 9.7% over the last five years – an average of less than 2% per annum - compared to the massive increase of 46% for the QAS over the same five-year period.”
In 2006-07, the number of QFRS call-outs was 65,252 or an average of 178 each day. In 2001-02, QFRS responded to 59,484 call-outs or an average of 162 each day.
“Importantly, the response times for urban fire crews have dramatically improved over that five-year period. This is an outstanding tribute to the dedicated and professional officers of the QFRS.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Brendan Connell - 3247 8992, 0437 837 976