Premier & Cabinet

Type:
Department of Premier and Cabinet Circular
Identifier:
C2001-69
Status:
Archived

C2001-69 NSW Bushfires - Provision of Relief Staff

Detailed Outline

The current bushfire emergency has seen a coordinated response by public sector agencies working in close cooperation with various community based and volunteer organisations.

As you will appreciate, the sheer magnitude of the fires throughout New South Wales has imposed significant demands on the capacities of the emergency services agencies to sustain the level of staffing needed for them to fulfil their responsibilities. The Rural Fire Service has, for example, augmented its staff by over 5,000 volunteers from interstate to enable it to maintain its fire fighting effort.

Although fires have been burning in various areas for some time, the emergency that developed on Christmas Day has placed a severe strain on the staff of all agencies directly involved in the response phase to the fires. The Department of Community Services has already assisted over 2,000 persons who have suffered some form of loss since that time.

The people affected by the bush fires are experiencing extremely high levels of emotional stress and the Government is committed to ensuring that everything that can be done is being done to assist these people as quickly as possible.

In order to ensure that the current effort can be maintained both in the response and later in the recovery phases of the emergency, additional assistance is required. I am, therefore, seeking your agreement to the release of any personnel from your agency who might be interested in assisting the emergency service agencies in the current crisis.

As was the case with the Olympic Games, it is proposed that departments and agencies continue to meet the salaries of those staff prepared to offer their services. However, in this case it will be possible to seek a recoup of all costs from the Treasury under the Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements at the completion of the emergency.

There is some urgency to the need for additional assistance and selected staff would be required, in some instances, to respond at short notice. Their services could be arranged so that by rotation the impact on agencies will be minimised as far as practicable. Some specialist skills such as accounting will be required for particular agencies but by and large a general administrative ability is the only criteria.

If you are agreeable to your organisation assisting in the emergency and thereby enhancing the skill levels of your staff, I would appreciate your bringing details of this communication to the notice of your personnel. Any person wishing to offer their services is invited to contact Mr Vic Widman in the Premier's Department on telephone 9228 4516 or facsimile 9228 4279. Mr Widman's email address is [email protected]

C. Gellatly
Director-General

Related to M2002-01

Overview

Compliance

Not Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
Dec 31, 2001
Review Date
Jun 13, 2024
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
Contact us
Phone
02 9228 5555
Publishing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Issuing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet