Fire and Emergency Services Amendment Bill 2009

On 1 October 2005 the Fire and Emergency Services Act commenced operation.  The Act brought together the SA Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS), the Country Fire Service (CFS) and the State Emergency Service (SES) under one single Act under the direction of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission Board. 

The Act also established the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM), a central agency responsible for supporting the three emergency services organisations, undertaking strategic policy planning, governance and resource allocation for the overall fire and emergency services sector.

This legislation signalled a major philosophical and cultural shift in terms of the governance of the CFS, MFS and SES but at the same time ensured retention of their operational autonomy.  Since the introduction of the Act, there has been a more collaborative, strategic and community-focused approach to planning, service delivery and reporting. 

The Act stated that it must be reviewed two years after it came into force and the review was subsequently conducted by John Murray, a former Assistant Police Commissioner in SA Police and Deputy Commissioner Australian Federal Police.  The Review of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 Report was tabled in Parliament on 8 May 2008 and contained 49 recommendations.

Of the 49 recommendations, some related to changes in practices and administrative policy, many of which have been addressed, while others required legislative change. 

SAFECOM has worked with the CFS, MFS, SES, volunteer associations, the firefighters union and local and state government to translate the relevant recommendations into proposed legislative amendments to the Act.  The drafting of these amendments has been considered in concert with legislative amendments arising from the Bushfire Management Review and the Wangary Coronial Inquest.

On 15 July 2009 the Fire and Emergency Services (Review) Amendment Bill 2009 was introduced into Parliament proposing changes to the Act.

Many of the proposed legislative changes are primarily concerned with further refining governance and legislative arrangements and supporting the recommendations for operational improvements identified in the Bushfire Management Review and the Wangary Inquest.  Key proposed changes contained in the Bill include:

  • replacing the current three-tiered framework for bushfire mitigation committee structures (state-wide, regional and district) with a two-tiered framework (state and area) to allow for better governance, planning and coordination of local fire prevention work
  • providing the ability to establish bushfire risk areas in urban communities
  • providing more flexibility for local councils in how they resource fire prevention work
  • amending the membership and constitutional arrangements of the SAFECOM Board and disbanding the Advisory Board
  • streamlining the appeals processes for both landowners and SAMFS staff.

Relevant links:

For more information or to provide feedback on the Bill, please contact:

David Place, Chief Executive, SAFECOM
Phone:8463 4069
Email: safecom.actreview@safecom.sa.gov.au