Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Emergency warning system

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:17): (179) My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, Victoria’s firefighters union warned the absence of vital information about public safety could put lives at risk during emergencies, yet this government has removed advertising from widely read print editions of major papers. Given the need for vulnerable people like the elderly and those without stable internet connection, phone reception or television to receive vital intel during emergencies, how can this government guarantee all residents will be able to receive emergency warnings in regional and remote parts of Victoria in the event of an emergency?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:18): I thank Mrs Hermans for her question. It is certainly a topic that we explored a little bit at PAEC, but I think at the outset I have to take issue with the way you framed the question in relation to government advertising and mixing that with emergency information during an emergency event. I do not think people should be waiting for a printed paper to get their information in the midst of an emergency, because it might be a little bit late. That is not how you should be getting your information whilst an emergency is upon you.

In relation to the broader issue in relation to advertising, the government has recalibrated its spending towards television and digital channels because that is where the greatest community impact is and it is what provides value for money. All Victorian public sector print advertising in major metropolitan newspapers, as we know, will cease from 1 July but will continue in regional papers, which is where a lot of the information for emergency, particularly fire and flood, needs to go. My advice is that this will not have a significant impact on bushfire or flood awareness campaigns in an emergency or for preparedness, because there are a range of other means that agencies use to communicate advice, such as radio, TV, warnings issued by the BOM, the VicEmergency app and website and social media. There is also a lot of doorknocking activity to ensure that we can access people that are right in the line of something that might be happening. We also have the ability to identify vulnerable cohorts through local councils.

Kate Fitzgerald, the CEO of Emergency Management Victoria, recently met with the commissioner for senior Victorians to understand how we can help target our warnings and campaigns. Interestingly, that briefing included key findings that older Victorians developed new skills through the pandemic and preferred to get their information online. That was directly the advice from the commissioner for senior Victorians. It is always important to have material going out to communities in relation to preparedness in relation to an emergency, and as I have outlined, there are numerous ways to do that and we will continue to do so.

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:20): I thank the minister for the response. Given the decrease in CFA volunteers, the lack of upgrades to allow CFA resources to be compliant and now the ban on advertising in major papers, how will this government ensure Victorians in regional Victoria will have the support and resources to protect public safety and prevent lives from being at risk during emergencies?

A member: She’s already answered that.

Ann-Marie HERMANS: No, this is about resources and support.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, answer as you see fit.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:21): Mrs Hermans, it would have probably been useful if that was the first question, because I have got 50 seconds to effectively repeat some of the messages that I gave you in the first answer in relation to how information is being provided to communities.

But in relation to support for communities, this government has a strong record in supporting our emergency services in the field. Only last week I opened the Molka fire station. The week before I handed over a new truck to the Mansfield fire brigade. Each and every week we are out there celebrating more and more investment and more and more support for our vital emergency services. I am more than happy to give you a list of all of the ones that are coming up, because there are lots. There are more trucks and more facilities to open. The budget had more than $36 million in relation to infrastructure just for our emergency services organisations in regional areas, so there is a lot of support for emergency services. That is why this job is pretty cool.

The PRESIDENT: Before I call the next question, I might have jumped the gun and called the first question before calling the Leader of the Government.

Jaclyn SYMES: Sorry about that, President. As you may have noticed, there are only four of us this week. I will take questions for Minister Erdogan and Minister Tierney will take questions for Minister Stitt all week.