The roundtable event Minister Felix Ellis held yesterday sounded the death knell for the Minister’s preferred two funding options for the future of our fire and emergency services.
When announcing the meeting, Minister Ellis said “we believe this Roundtable will help us achieve the best possible outcome for all Tasmanians.”
However Labor understands the Minister commenced the meeting by lecturing yesterday’s attendees about why they were wrong.
Before going in to the meeting, a group of stakeholders expressed their significant concerns about the proposed models to media.
Minister Ellis needs to update Tasmanians about what data he has provided and why they landed on the two models that no one recommended.
The Minister will no doubt try to say the meeting was constructive. The views of other stakeholders appear to provide some contrast to his opinion.
Labor understands the concerns of participants include that the Minister hasn’t done the work in consulting until now, he does not have the data to properly inform the funding models and he will not extend the consultation period. The Minister committed to not tabling the bill this year – something that is impossible to achieve now anyway.
It is clear the Minister is also failing to address the other significant flaws in his draft bill.
Labor appreciates the need for a modern, well-trained and well-equipped fire service and SES, but the Liberals’ new funding model is not the way to go about it.
Minister Ellis needs to listen to all the concerns that have been raised and go back to the drawing board, and importantly extend the consultation period – and genuinely work on a better, properly informed process that suits the Tasmanian community.
If the Minister doesn’t have the experience to recognise this, the Premier must step in and force his hand.
Michelle O’Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management
