Question 1 - Large Air Tanker
Amy:
We have heard some of the details of the arrangement around the LAT between Queensland and Victoria. Will the details of the agreement with Victoria be made public, including things such as what if there is a need for the LAT in both Queensland and Victoria simultaneously?
Emergency Services Commissioner:
The procurement of the large air tanker is done through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre. NAFC was set up by the Australasian fire authorities council. That is where all fire agencies from jurisdictions across Australia come together to negotiate contracts for our specialist aerial firefighting fleet. The contract arrangements between NAFC and the aircraft operator and involving Queensland and Victoria are obviously commercial-in-confidence because it was a competitive tendering process. I can say that, based on what we learnt from our first year of contract last year, those factors have been considered in the development of the contract for this year to ensure that continuity of supply and to think about the ongoing crewing of this aircraft over this four-year period.
Amy:
What would happen if there was simultaneous need?
Emergency Services Commissioner:
There frequently is. Our large air tanker is one of almost 150 aircraft that we use here in Queensland. If you look at the K’gari fire as an example, we had 30-odd aircraft working actively on that fire, including the large air tanker—not only ours, but we requested and received the large air tanker from Rural Fire Service New South Wales to assist. The large air tankers were only used to do strategic firebreak construction or protection of specific assets. The bulk of the work— probably over 90 per cent of the work at that fire—was done by our core when needed aircraft. The LAT is a terrific resource but it is a very specialised resource used sparingly to achieve specific incident management objectives.
Amy:
What is the current allocated budget for leasing of the LAT under this new agreement?
Emergency Services Commissioner:
The funding for the large air tanker includes more than $15 million over five years—that is commencing in the 2020-21 financial year—and $3.1 million in ongoing support costs. That is the global funding for the aircraft.