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Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service (TFES) Reforms

What are the TFES Reforms, and what is changing?

The Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service (TFES) Reforms are about supporting our fire and emergency services so that they can continue to keep Tasmanians safe through strategic and well-supported prevention, preparation, response and transition to recovery arrangements.

The Tasmanian Government has announced the future of the TFES Reforms, following extensive consultation on previous proposals between September 2023 and February 2024.

The reforms will:

  • Establish the TFES in legislation, bringing together the TFS and SES onto a common operating platform;
  • Establish the role of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner in legislation as the operational lead of TFES;
  • Establish the State Fire and Emergency Services Commission as the statutory authority in charge of TFES, with a skills-based board;
  • Establish a volunteer charter in legislation; and
  • Replace the existing Fire Service Act 1979 and regulations with contemporary, principles-based legislation.

For further information, or to register for updates on the reforms, please contact, tfes@dpfem.tas.gov.au

Consultation

Position Paper – State Fire and Emergency Services Commission

As part of the TFES Reforms, the Tasmanian Government has committed to establishing the State Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SFESC) as the statutory authority in charge of the Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service (TFES), with a skills-based board.

The Position Paper – State Fire and Emergency Services Commission presents more detail on this commitment and how the legislation will be drafted to deliver on this.

Feedback on the proposed approach was sought between 3 December 2024 and 28 February 2025.

Submissions received

Submission No. Name (Organisation or Individual) Date Received
1 Professor David Bowman, University of Tasmania 19/12/24
2 Councillor Robert Cassidy, Central Highlands Council 5/1/25
3 Glamorgan Spring Bay Council 13/1/25
4 West Tamar Council 22/1/25
5 Tiana Hokins 22/1/25
6 Huon Valley Council 29/1/25
7 Hobart City Council 12/2/25
8 George Town Council 14/2/25
9 Central Highlands Council 18/2/25
10 Latrobe Council 19/2/25
11 Kentish Council 27/2/25
12 Tasmanian Retained Volunteer Firefighters Association 28/2/25
13 Local Government Association of Tasmania 28/2/25
14 Tasmanian Volunteer Fire Brigades Association 28/2/25
15 Tasmanian Forest Products Association 28/2/25
16 Community and Public Sector Union 28/2/25
17 State Fire Management Council 28/2/25
18 Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania 28/2/25
19 United Firefighters Union of Australia – Tasmania Branch 3/3/25
20 Tasmania State Emergency Service Volunteers Association 12/3/25

More Information

Reform Journey

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