The Queensland Government is undertaking a reform program to address the function, structure, efficiency, funding and sustainability of our disaster and emergency services.
Whilst undertaking the Disaster Management (DM) review, the Reform Implementation Taskforce (RIT) will aim to successfully transition and integrate DM functional responsibilities from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) into Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority by 30 June 2024.
As part of this transition, the RIT is working across the sector to enhance whole of government Disaster and Emergency Management capability to respond to disasters, whilst fostering more resilient and disaster aware communities.
To undertake this arrangement, DM legislation requires amendment and approval.
In July 2021, the Queensland Government commissioned an independent review of QFES and its associated volunteer services.
The goal of the review was to ensure the long-term sustainability of emergency services delivery for Queenslanders. This included assessing the existing scope, functions and suitability of the QFES structure and its funding arrangements.
Multiple recommendations made by the review have been accepted in principle by the Government and address function and structure, efficiency, funding, and sustainability.
With Queensland experiencing more natural disasters than any other state in the country, the Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements will continue to become more robust through activation, exercise, and lessons management with all stakeholders.
To maintain this forward momentum of continual improvement, we continue to be more responsive to our state’s emergency service providers, working to ensure they are equipped with the resources and organisational structures needed to keep Queenslanders safe in times of disaster, now and in the future.
The goal of the reforms is to modernise service delivery arrangements, improve operational structures and focus resources where they’re needed. As part of this program of work, the QPS will gain primary responsibility for functions of DM as a system of operations for Queensland.
In DM, the Qld government has committed to an additional 80 positions and up to $20 million in recurrent funding available to support disaster response and coordination.
Staff impacted by the change continue to be consulted on progress to date and their feedback has been valuable collectively to improve on outcomes previously considered by both QFES and the RIT as items move to QPS and the QRA.
DM in Queensland will remain a shared responsibility requiring all agencies, partners, and stakeholders to collaboratively undertake and manage disaster management activities as legislated by the Disaster Management Act 2003 and Disaster Management Regulation 2014.
Staff, volunteers, unions, and member associations are being engaged as appropriate about any changes to positions, reporting lines and transition arrangements as the functional alignment decisions are being agreed with agencies.
Work has been underway for most of 2023 in preparing staff, the agency, stakeholders internal and external for the first phase of the DM transition to QPS. The first tranche includes the State Disaster Coordination Centre Watchdesk, Regional Emergency Management Coordinators, Emergency Management Training and Emergency Management Capability from QFES across to QPS as at 30 October 2024. A new QPS command has been stood up to accommodate this uplift of staff and functions, to be known as the Emergency Management and Coordination Command (EMCC).
EMCC will oversee operations for disaster response in Queensland, and are working towards building capabilities to support the functions of disaster and emergency management for the QPS, EMCC will continue to work closely with other disaster and emergency management entities across the whole of Queensland to ensure when an event occurs, we have the relationships and the capability to support the Queensland communities we serve. This command will support emergency and disaster management operations when events occur, whether this be from a local, district or state level response to ensure the Queensland community is kept safe and is supported in their recovery.
All agencies, along with the RIT are highly aware of the pressures a disaster season may bring, so are being extraordinarily careful on how and where we engage in order to not stress the DM System and staff during the transition. We are applying best practice engagement and co-design with stakeholders to prepare for the transition, build an interim operating model for all parties and before 30 June 2024, assume a fully separated position from QFES allowing QFES to focus on the build of the future Queensland Fire Department as a hazard response agency.
The next phase of the DM program is the transition or replication of functions within the QPS where multiple system and responder agencies play a pivotal role in keeping Queenslanders safe. This means working within QFES, non-emergency management business areas have a better understanding of their role and how this supports our responders and the necessary work of government across the board.
The motto for the program, no degradation of service for all transitioning or new growth agency areas. This is truly an exciting opportunity to deliberately reframe DM and first responder agencies in Queensland and we are highly cognisant of the risk and opportunity this Taskforce reform collectively provides us. Reforms will conclude by 30 June 2024.
You’ll hear about what the Reform Implementation Taskforce (RIT) is working on through your existing communications channels, via emails, through your management and leadership teams or you could:
