Police and Emergency Services reform
Queensland has a long history of having to deal with natural disasters. All of its emergency services agencies have an equally long history of commitment and service to community safety during times of crisis. Over the past decade we have seen continued improvements to our disaster management arrangements, in the preparation for, response to and recovery from every event we have learnt new lessons. The challenges of the future demand that we must continue to improve.
On 21 October 2022 the Honourable Mark Ryan, Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services announced an enhanced investment in fire and emergency services capabilities to ensure Queensland’s committed frontline officers, staff and volunteers are best positioned to respond to emergency situations and keep Queenslanders safe in a disaster.
The Government has determined to implement these changes as a result of recommendations from the independent review of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.
This will see the establishment of a new Queensland Fire Department focussed on delivering world class fire and rescue services, whilst the Queensland Police Service (QPS) will expand to include Emergency Services, including SES, Marine Rescue and Disaster Management.
The commitments by the Queensland Government include uplift in capability and capacity for the Queensland Reconstruction Agency (QRA) to improve resilience across Queensland.
On 14 November 2022 I was appointed by the Government as the Special Coordinator for Police and Emergency Services Reform to oversee these changes. The disaster and emergency management reforms announced by Minister Ryan on 21 October will be delivered through the Reform Implementation Taskforce (RIT) as part of a broader range of reforms announced by Government.
One of my first tasks is to stand up the RIT which will coordinate implementation of the Machinery of Government changes over a two-year period. The senior Steering Committee to assist guide the work of the RIT has already been established and met for the first time on 25 November 2022.
I appreciate anyone potentially impacted by these changes will be concerned about what the future holds.
With this will come many questions that we are not currently in a position to answer, noting we are still early in the design phase. Please allow the impacted agencies, Taskforce Team, and myself time to plan the journey we will undertake across the next two years.
It is important to remember that no transitional changes between the existing agencies will occur before 1 July 2023. It is even more important to ensure we focus on delivering the best possible community safety and disaster management services under the current model as we progress through the coming season and in the lead up to 1 July 2023.
I am looking forward to meeting with many stakeholders over the coming months and can assure you that agency executives and I will be actively engaging as more detail becomes available in the coming months.
If you have any questions or feedback in the meantime, please call 3364 8115 or email the Deputy Commissioner's office
Stephan Gollschewski
Deputy Commissioner – Queensland Police Service
State Disaster Coordinator
Program Executive Reform Implementation Taskforce