What we're talking about

fay silk on Two men charged with eight counts of ... 1. bring back hanging for rape.2. if these poor women had access to guns and the training to use them then they would be ... more
fay silk on CFMEU's Grocon blockade unlawful: ... What a surprise! Not. The so called law courts would always rule against workers right to protest organize and withdraw ... more
sad but so what?! on Hazel Hawke passes away What is she famous for? Being the ex-wife of Bob Hawke. That's it! Why is the media making such a big deal? Is this going to ... more
Jean on London: Two more suspects arrested ... Words fail me as to how anyone could do such a cowardly and barbaric act to another human being. Its beyond belief that ... more
Rich on Teenager stabbed amid armed hold up at ... Not to detract from the fact that the kid is recovering in hospital but why is there a 17 year old working in a liquor store? more
Peggy on London: Two more suspects arrested ... Every time I think about this it truly disturbs me. This was so horrible that it's hard to accept that a human can do this. ... more
Monica on London: Two more suspects arrested ... Tragic story and for what? He died in the name allah to display peace and tolerance. Are we really ready to embrace this? more
geert on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... anyone remember geert wilders in australia 6 months ago i believe he was warning us about exactly this, wake up australia!!! more
Gazza on Hazel Hawke passes away A legend of the workers for the workers.RIP Hazel........ more
mandy on Hazel Hawke passes away A strong and talented woman I admired her views. more
mandy on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... What a disgrace an innocent man slaughtered with the blood dripping from that monsters murderous hands they should have been ... more
Rob on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... What a weird video. At 17 seconds a lady is walking straight up to him and then it is edited by some one. Then at the end, ... more
Not Welcome Here on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... If these murderers and all those who have such a hatred for the country they live in, why not go back to their ... more
Joybells on Hazel Hawke passes away Hazel Hawke was such a lady, well respected and loved & will be greatly missed.She truly was a gr8 Australian. more
Anita Elkington on Hazel Hawke passes away A truly beautiful wonderful woman , so sad , more
Matt - proudly Un-Australian on Gina Rinehart more powerful than PM: ... Get real, she doesn't even like her own children, what sort of woman is that??? Money over your own kids, that is evil. more
Schtang on Gina Rinehart more powerful than PM: ... Gina Rinehart is only powerful due to her money - Julia Gillard is powerful due to her intelligence & integrity. more
martin newell on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... Any large multicultural city has this problem.Murder, stabbings, etc.Notice in the video how a little black lady casually ... more
Sheryl on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... Another terriorist act...I would be turning my lights off and closing my boarders - perhaps not all muslims are like this ... more
janetp on Terror in London: UK soldier hacked to ... It will happen here in Auss, pull yr heads out of the ground. more

Shake-up of Victorian emergency services

Posted by: Ellen Feely | 10 December, 2012 - 7:49 AM

The Baillieu government has announced the biggest shake-up of emergency services in 30 years, pulling all of the services together in one crisis-management body to be headed by an Emergency Management Commissioner.

Speaking with Neil Mitchell, Deputy Premier and Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan said while legislative holes relating to the leadership in a disaster – made apparent under former Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon’s tenure during Black Saturday – had since been closed, there was still further progress needing to be made.

"The weakness still is in my opinion that what we've had, and what we've amended, is only applicable to fire and flood," he said.

"What we are now going to have under this arrangement is one person who, no matter the nature of the disaster, one person will have the ultimate responsibility for the coordination of how we deal with it."

Mr Ryan cited the 1969 Violet Town rail disaster, the 1970 West Gate Bridge collapse, the 1991 Coode Island explosion, and the 1998 Longford has explosion, as types of disasters which need a central body to manage an emergency response.

"Those things don't fit in with the normal regime of how you manage these things with fire or flood, " he said.

Mr Ryan said the only exceptions to Emergency Management Victoria's involvement in a crisis would be terrorism or a criminal act, in which Victoria Police will remain in control.

Responding to criticisms from the United Firefighters Union that the new plan could endanger lives, Mr Ryan said the union’s view was ‘nonsense’.

"Unfortunately they refused to participate in the process whereby all of this has taken place over the last 12 months," he said.

"They haven't seen the paper, they're out there bagging it, and I think that's most unfortunate."

LISTEN: Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan speaks with Neil Mitchell:

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Vic Fire fighters on high alert

FIRE BANS: As firefighters brace for extreme weather tomorrow the latest weapon in Victoria's bushfire strike force has arrived.

Teachers to strike on February 14

STRIKE: Teachers in state schools will strike for 24-hours just two weeks after the start of the new school year. They will walk out on Thursday February 14 over the Baillieu Government's failure to negotiate a pay deal.