WA:Oppn wants WA minister sacked over fires

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2011
WA:Oppn wants WA minister sacked over fires

PERTH, Aug 17 AAP - West Australian Emergency Services Minister Rob Johnson should
resign or be sacked from his portfolio following a critical report into February's Perth
hills bushfires, the state opposition says.

Former Australian Federal Police boss Mick Keelty released a report on Wednesday into
the blaze, which destroyed 71 homes when it tore through Roleystone and Kelmscott on February
6.

Opposition Leader Eric Ripper says the report is a damning indictment of the Fire and
Emergency Services Authority's (FESA) management of the fires.

"The minister is responsible for the operations of FESA and his failures in this portfolio
leave him with little option but to resign or be sacked," he said.

Mr Ripper said the state government was more interested in managing the message in
the media rather than dealing with the problem to restore the public's confidence in FESA.

He said FESA's structure failed during the fires but the ultimate responsibility should
lie with Mr Johnson.

"Any minister should be ashamed their department came out of a review looking like
FESA did and any government that takes such matters seriously should be ashamed of such
a minister," Mr Ripper said.

Premier Colin Barnett told parliament the report showed cultural and structural change
was needed at FESA and the public sector commissioner had asked CEO Jo Harrison-Ward to
step aside.

Mr Keelty recommended FESA, which currently operates independently, be brought under
government control and the board disbanded.

AAP anr/was

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES WA RIPPER

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