Wednesday, 9 March 2022

 Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:15): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. I refer to your announcement on Monday—the $115.6 million to bring on more call takers at ESTA—and I therefore ask: how many of the new call takers from this package will be in position by 30 June 2022, and how many will be in position by 30 June 2023?

 Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:16): I thank Mr Davis for his question. As identified, there was a significant funding boost announcement on Monday of $115.6 million to support ESTA to do the hard work that they do in supporting Victorians who require emergency responses. There are 120 positions to be recruited. That money is flowing now. As I have indicated to the house previously, our training schedule is full up until May/June, and we are embarking on a recruitment campaign to encourage more and more people to consider such a rewarding job at ESTA. In relation to the specifics of your question, Mr Davis, support is available for ESTA to recruit as many people as soon as possible and to have them in place as soon as possible, but operational arrangements in relation to the training placements, the roster arrangements et cetera are matters for ESTA.

 Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:17): With respect, it was a very simple question that was not answered by the minister, and she should answer it. I refer again to the package, which you say has more call takers, support, recruitment and community education campaigns. In light of the previous question, I therefore ask: will you provide the chamber with a breakdown, year by year across the forward estimates, of how much will be spent in each of the parts of the package to enable the community to track the government’s performance, which to date has been hopelessly inadequate?

 Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:17): Mr Davis, it is certainly my intention to be open and transparent on these issues. I have not shied away from the challenges of ESTA. I have said that the delays are unacceptable. I have said that we are committed to providing more staff. And I want to give a guarantee to the community that I will continue to update them on the progress that we make with this funding package and indeed other support that ESTA may require.

Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, it was a very simple question about whether the minister will provide that detailed breakdown.