Inspector-general for emergency management
Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:09): (147) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, has the Andrews government implemented all the recommendations from the inspector-general for emergency management’s Review of Victoria’s Preparedness for Major Public Health Emergencies, Including Pandemics and the Review of Victoria’s Emergency Ambulance Call Answer Performance?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:09): I thank Ms Hermans for her question and take the opportunity to thank the IGEM for the important role that he and the office play in relation to supporting emergency services and the independent oversight in relation to responding not only to business as usual but also to emergency events and the like. In relation to the acquitting of those recommendations, I will have to take on notice the exact recommendation and status, but it is always the work of the IGEM that is the independence of their work, and the recommendations are always considered by government – usually always accepted, and I think in that case that is also the case. So in terms of the implementation and the status, I will give you a new version of where we are up to.
Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:10): I thank the minister for her response and look forward to getting further information. Minister, will you release a copy of the MOU that has been agreed to with unions on greater roster flexibility to support ESTA to meet demand, as was highlighted in recommendation 7?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:11): I can confirm, in terms of that recommendation, that has been progressed. There is an MOU that exists between ESTA and the unions in relation to rostering. All of that will feed into the enterprise bargaining negotiations, which are also about to kick off. I do not own that document. That is a document that is in the possession of ESTA and negotiated with the unions. I do not personally have a copy, so I will not commit to releasing something that is not in my possession.