As Special Inquirer into the Waroona fires of January 2016, Euan Ferguson AFSM offers a unique opportunity for the peoples and government of Western Australia to set a high new benchmark for fire and emergency services beyond their city limits.
As a matter of inescapable fact, Ferguson has recognised the serious shortcomings of a city-centric, unionised fire-fighting service, in favour of a new rural service based on local volunteers, farmers businesses and communities, and rural shires, when fire threatens forests, farms and country towns.
Hence his concern that both control and funding must be independent components of any new rural fire organisation must be paramount.
There has been an equal rural determination to minimise union influence in country areas, and to avoid mistakes currently being made in Victoria with the Country Fire Authority. An all-out campaign by career firefighters in WA to discredit volunteers, and in turn, the Ferguson Report, should be cause enough for the State Government to reject the calls of this sector and their Commissioner for a status quo under ongoing DFES control.
I strongly support volunteer firemen and local government in their call for an independent body to manage the Emergency Services Levy, in the place of DFES. Avoiding this conflict of interest in how funds are apportioned will be an important key to future success.
Separately I wish to raise the opportunity to acquire a near-city, ready-made rural headquarters for the proposed new Country Fire Authority. This site is on 500ha of rural land adjoining ALCOA less than 15km east of Pinjarra on the Pinjarra/Dwellingup road.
With positive early planning, such a major strategic base facility could be developed as not only a State, but possibly a national and international disaster centre.
With these points in mind I believe there is a rare opportunity for decisions to bring fire and emergency services in WA into a new era. Discord and dysfunction with the WA fires of January 2016 have formed the lessons of the Ferguson Report. They must not be ignored.