Draft Fire and Emergency Services (Industry Brigades) Amendment Bill 2016

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You can provide comments on the draft Fire and Emergency Services (Industry Brigades) Amendment Bill 2016.

What is being decided?

The draft Fire and Emergency Services (Industry Brigades) Amendment Bill 2016 (PDF, 50KB) has been developed, and we want to hear your feedback. Part of the proposal includes the establishment of legislative ‘head power’ to facilitate the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) requiring the formulation and maintenance of industry brigades within the country areas of South Australia.

The predominant driver of this reform is the Forestry Industry move toward private ownership, proliferation of hardwood plantations and the concern of the CFS and wider community over the provision of fire suppression capacity by industry in the future. Currently, there are no legislative requirements for plantation owners to maintain fire suppression capability.

This proposed Amendment Bill is the first step in the development of a legislative framework that will provide flexibility for the establishment of industry brigades including those outside of the commercial forestry industry if necessary in the future.

A detailed Explanatory Note (PDF, 156KB) has been prepared outlining background on the development of the proposed legislation and a clause by clause explanation of the draft amendment bill. It is strongly recommended that this explanatory note is to be read in conjunction with the draft Amendment Bill.

How can your input influence the decision?

To date, the CFS has undertaken considerable industry stakeholder and public consultation during development of the proposed legislative framework. To continue this ongoing development, the release of the draft Amendment Bill for public consultation is considered essential and in accordance with requests received during the consultation undertaken to date.

This consultation will further enhance CFS working closely with key stakeholders from within Government agencies, Forestry Industry and the public to develop a legislative framework which has wide acceptance across Government agencies, volunteers and industry upon implementation.

You can have your say by:

• joining the online discussion
• completing the CFS submission form (DOC, 75KB) or general submission and sending via email cfs.industrybrigades@sa.gov.au or post to CFS Industry Brigades Project Officer, PO Box 2468, Adelaide SA 5001.

How will your input be used?

Receipt of submissions will be acknowledged via return email or post, and form part of the collaboration of both CFS and the Office of Parliamentary Council to finalise the Amendment Bill that is to be provided to the Minister's office for consideration for introduction into Parliament.

Want to know more?

• Download the draft Fire and Emergency Services (Industry Brigades) Amendment Bill 2016 (PDF, 50KB).
• Download the Explanatory Note (PDF, 156KB).
• Download the submission form (DOC, 75KB).
• Email us via cfs.industrybrigades@sa.gov.au.