The State Fire Commission’s primary purpose is to minimise the social, economic and environmental impact of fire and other emergencies on the Tasmanian community. This is achieved through implementing strategies for the Tasmania Fire Service that develop resilience to prevent and prepare for emergencies.
The Commission is also responsible for:
· managing incidents involving hazardous materials, including response to terrorist incidents involving chemical, biological and radiological agents;
· road crash rescue (in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, Devonport and surrounding areas);
· providing an Urban Search and Rescue capability to manage the rescue of people from collapsed buildings and structures;
· a range of community fire safety programs that guard against structural fire and bushfire;
· fire investigations; and
· coordinating Fuel Reduction Program activities on behalf of the Government.
The State Fire Commission reports to the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Hon Mark Shelton MP, and the supporting agency is the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management. The Commission delivers all of its services through its operational arm, the Tasmania Fire Service.
This chapter provides the State Fire Commission’s financial
information for 2020‑21 and over the Forward Estimates (2021‑22
to 2023‑24). Further information on the Commission can be found at
www.fire.tas.gov.au.
Table 26.1 provides a summary of the Budget and Forward Estimates allocations for key deliverables being undertaken by the Commission.
|
2020‑21
Budget |
2021‑22 Forward Estimate |
2022‑23 Forward Estimate |
2023‑24 Forward Estimate |
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Bushfires ‑ New Act Creation |
75 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
Bushfires Fuel Reduction Activities ‑ Private Landholders |
295 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
Fire Fighting Appliance Replacement Program2 |
5 700 |
3 000 |
4 100 |
3 000 |
Fire Station Build Program |
1 040 |
740 |
900 |
800 |
Fuel Reduction Teams |
2 325 |
2 325 |
2 325 |
2 325 |
Regional Emergency Management Planning and Development |
387 |
396 |
406 |
.... |
Remote Area Teams |
160 |
160 |
.... |
.... |
SES Community Protection Planning for Flood and Storm Hazard |
200 |
472 |
488 |
505 |
State Fire Commission Support |
4 000 |
4 000 |
.... |
.... |
Supporting our Emergency Services Volunteers |
500 |
500 |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. All initiatives other than the Fire Fighting Appliance Replacement Program and the Fire Station Build Program are funded through the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
2. Funding includes the Aerial Appliance Replacement Program.
Funding of $75 000 has been provided in 2020‑21, to continue the development of bushfire mitigation legislation commenced in 2019‑20. The legislation aims to improve bushfire mitigation in Tasmania by streamlining approval processes to reduce fuel and mechanically clear vegetation, and ensuring clear accountability for landholders and occupants.
Funding of $295 000 has been provided in 2020‑21 (following the provision of similar funding in 2019‑20), to help landowners plan and undertake fuel reduction activities. The revised program, known as Red Hot Tips, is designed to educate, engage, and support farmers and rural landholders to actively manage their bushfire risk, while encouraging collaborative, practical vegetation fire management and ecological sustainability.
The Commission is committed to providing its fire fighters with safe and operationally effective fire appliances, allocated using a fit‑for‑purpose rationale. Each appliance category has an established, defined role and functionality, with a specific scope of application, which is considered in the process of allocation to brigades and matched to risk. The Commission has endorsed a sustainable replacement program that will ensure that all fire appliances remain viable for operation in a safe and effective manner.
The 2020‑21 Budget and Forward Estimates allocation of $15.8 million will fund the rolling Fire Fighting Appliance Replacement Program, which will see the purchase or fabrication of medium tankers, and the procurement of heavy pumpers and aerial appliances.
This initiative is part of an ongoing program for capital upgrades to Commission facilities, which includes a combination of refurbishment and replacement of fire stations. One of the key outcomes of the program will be further reducing the exposure to diesel, particularly through better station design. This will include the separation of fire fighters’ personal protective clothing from firefighting appliance diesel exhaust. This separation provides the added benefit of further eliminating any exposure to the possibility of residual contaminants in protective clothing used in firefighting.
The Government has allocated an additional $9.3 million over four years from 2020‑21 to enable the development of two dedicated Fuel Reduction Teams. This will include 12 additional staff members within the Tasmania Fire Service Bushfire Risk Unit to undertake Fuel Reduction Program bushfire risk reduction activities across the State.
The State Fire Commission will continue the implementation of the four year initiative to enable the SES to employ Regional Emergency Management Planning and Development Officers. These officers are supporting municipal authorities with emergency management planning as well as providing education support.
This initiative supports the implementation of the Government’s response to the 2015 Independent Review of Emergency Management Arrangements in Tasmania, conducted by the Department of Justice. This initiative is funded by an allocation provided in 2019‑20 of $1.5 million over four years.
The State Fire Commission will continue the implementation of the four year initiative to develop, sustain and grow Remote Area Teams capacity from suitable volunteer fire fighters around the State. Selected volunteers will undergo helicopter insertion training and gain firefighting skills in this specialised field. This will provide an exciting career path for those volunteers with good physical fitness levels. This initiative is funded by an allocation provided in 2018‑19 of $535 000 over four years.
Funding of $1.7 million over the 2020‑21 Budget and Forward Estimates period has been allocated to support additional work on flood policy. This further supports the ongoing implementation of the Government’s response to the Review of the Tasmanian Floods of June and July 2016.
The 2020‑21 Budget provides $8 million over two years to support the Commission’s activities. This funding is in recognition of the impact of the Government’s decision to freeze the Fire Service Contribution increase, for 2020, as part of the Government’s COVID‑19 pandemic response to minimise the impact of cost increases on the Tasmanian community. The funding will also be used to support Tasmania’s ongoing capacity to respond to bushfire by providing initial support for the development of a dedicated division within the Tasmania Fire Service to manage the planning and response to bushfire at a whole of state level.
The State Fire Commission will continue the implementation of a four year initiative to enable all Volunteer Units from the Tasmania Fire Service and State Emergency Service to apply for upgrades to equipment. This initiative is funded by an allocation provided in 2018‑19 of $2 million over four years.
|
2019‑20 |
2020‑21 |
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
Grants1 |
4 901 |
11 606 |
11 271 |
6 715 |
6 752 |
Taxation |
77 145 |
79 145 |
82 152 |
84 880 |
87 734 |
Sales of goods and services |
6 191 |
6 383 |
6 511 |
6 641 |
6 774 |
Fees and fines |
170 |
173 |
177 |
180 |
184 |
Interest |
250 |
250 |
250 |
250 |
250 |
Other revenue2 |
10 552 |
8 502 |
8 527 |
8 548 |
8 569 |
Total revenue |
99 209 |
106 059 |
108 888 |
107 214 |
110 263 |
Total income |
99 209 |
106 059 |
108 888 |
107 214 |
110 263 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
Employee benefits3 |
50 209 |
53 514 |
54 680 |
55 893 |
57 127 |
Depreciation and amortisation |
6 390 |
6 390 |
6 390 |
6 390 |
6 390 |
Supplies and consumables4 |
38 672 |
41 638 |
46 300 |
42 809 |
43 584 |
Borrowing costs |
117 |
83 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
Other expenses |
3 819 |
3 664 |
3 745 |
3 831 |
3 918 |
Total expenses |
99 207 |
105 289 |
111 115 |
108 923 |
111 019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net result |
2 |
770 |
(2 227) |
(1 709) |
(756) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive result |
2 |
770 |
(2 227) |
(1 709) |
(756) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. The decrease in Other revenue in 2020‑21 reflects the removal of $2 million of Fuel Reduction funding, which is now allocated directly to Sustainable Timber Tasmania by the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
3. The increase in Employee benefits primarily reflects additional staffing costs associated with the Fuel Reduction Teams and State Fire Commission Support initiatives.
4. The increase in Supplies and consumables in 2020‑21 primarily reflects increased expenditure estimates for Repairs and Maintenance and Workers’ Compensation premium.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits1 |
9 350 |
8 819 |
5 425 |
1 770 |
673 |
Receivables |
2 734 |
2 734 |
2 734 |
2 734 |
2 734 |
Other financial assets |
2 481 |
2 481 |
2 481 |
2 481 |
2 481 |
|
14 565 |
14 034 |
10 640 |
6 985 |
5 888 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non‑financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories |
1 905 |
1 905 |
1 905 |
1 905 |
1 905 |
Property, plant and equipment2 |
124 271 |
131 793 |
132 160 |
133 306 |
133 017 |
Other assets |
1 196 |
1 196 |
1 196 |
1 196 |
1 196 |
|
127 372 |
134 894 |
135 261 |
136 407 |
136 118 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
141 937 |
148 928 |
145 901 |
143 392 |
142 006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Payables |
4 499 |
4 499 |
4 699 |
4 899 |
5 099 |
Interest bearing liabilities3 |
3 830 |
2 830 |
1 830 |
830 |
.... |
Employee benefits |
14 324 |
14 324 |
14 324 |
14 324 |
14 324 |
Superannuation4 |
(779) |
(779) |
(779) |
(779) |
(779) |
Total liabilities |
21 874 |
20 874 |
20 074 |
19 274 |
18 644 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets (liabilities) |
120 063 |
128 054 |
125 827 |
124 118 |
123 362 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
Reserves |
45 698 |
45 698 |
45 698 |
45 698 |
45 698 |
Accumulated funds |
74 365 |
82 356 |
80 129 |
78 420 |
77 664 |
Total equity |
120 063 |
128 054 |
125 827 |
124 118 |
123 362 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The variation in Cash and deposits primarily reflects the impact of the Commission’s operating position and the State Fire Commission’s debt reduction strategies.
2. The increase in Property, plant and equipment in 2021 primarily reflects the planned purchase of additional aerial appliances.
3. The decrease in Interest bearing liabilities in 2021 reflects the implementation of debt reduction strategies implemented by the State Fire Commission.
4. The Superannuation liability reflects an actuarial determination that assets exceed the liability owing to members.
|
2019‑20 |
2020‑21 |
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash inflows |
|
|
|
|
|
Grants1 |
4 901 |
11 606 |
11 271 |
6 715 |
6 752 |
Taxation |
74 684 |
76 679 |
79 550 |
82 167 |
84 905 |
Sales of goods and services |
6 191 |
6 383 |
6 511 |
6 641 |
6 774 |
Fees and fines |
170 |
173 |
177 |
180 |
184 |
GST receipts2 |
1 852 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
Interest received |
250 |
250 |
250 |
250 |
250 |
Other cash receipts3 |
10 552 |
8 502 |
8 527 |
8 548 |
8 569 |
Total cash inflows |
98 600 |
103 593 |
106 286 |
104 501 |
107 434 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash outflows |
|
|
|
|
|
Employee benefits4 |
(44 216) |
(47 866) |
(48 902) |
(49 979) |
(51 074) |
Superannuation |
(5 993) |
(5 648) |
(5 778) |
(5 914) |
(6 053) |
Borrowing costs |
(117) |
(83) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
GST payments2 |
(1 852) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
Supplies and consumables5 |
(36 260) |
(39 333) |
(43 858) |
(40 256) |
(40 915) |
Other cash payments |
(3 819) |
(3 664) |
(3 745) |
(3 831) |
(3 918) |
Total cash outflows |
(92 257) |
(96 594) |
(102 283) |
(99 980) |
(101 960) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash from (used by) operating activities |
6 343 |
6 999 |
4 003 |
4 521 |
5 474 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Payments for acquisition of non‑financial assets |
(7 469) |
(9 998) |
(6 757) |
(7 536) |
(6 101) |
Proceeds from the disposal of non‑financial assets |
300 |
300 |
360 |
360 |
360 |
Net cash from (used by) investing activities |
(7 169) |
(9 698) |
(6 397) |
(7 176) |
(5 741) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Net borrowings |
.... |
(1 000) |
(1 000) |
(1 000) |
(830) |
Net cash from (used by) financing activities |
.... |
(1 000) |
(1 000) |
(1 000) |
(830) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held |
(826) |
(3 699) |
(3 394) |
(3 655) |
(1 097) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits at the beginning of the reporting period |
10 176 |
12 518 |
8 819 |
5 425 |
1 770 |
Cash and deposits at the end of the reporting period |
9 350 |
8 819 |
5 425 |
1 770 |
673 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The variation in Grants reflects funding for the Bushfires Fuel Reduction Activities ‑ Private Landowners, Fuel Reduction Teams, Bushfires ‑ New Act Creation, and State Fire Commission Support initiatives.
2. The decrease in GST receipts and GST payments reflects a more accurate estimate based on the 30 June 2019 outcome.
3. The variation in Other cash receipts in 2020‑21 reflects for a reduction of $2 million for Fuel Reduction funding, which is now allocated directly to Sustainable Timber Tasmania from the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
4. The increase in Employee benefits in 2020‑21 primarily reflects additional staffing costs associated with the Fuel Reduction Teams and the State Fire Commission Support initiatives.
5. The increase in Supplies and consumables in 2020‑21 and 2021‑22 primarily reflects increased expenditure on Repairs and Maintenance and Workers’ Compensation.