**Copy of email (with accompanying emails) received 03/08/16 (with email addresses and phone numbers redacted):** **From:** CASOTTI Mark\\ **Sent:** Wednesday, August 3, 2016 7:53 AM\\ **To:** MFS Sectretary; et al\\ **Subject:** FW: Release FYI below – I have been requested to pass on the below. From what I understand (I was not at the meeting identified below) at the meeting identified below (18th July) it was resolved that the brigade representatives would go back to their respective brigades to discuss the various matters raised at the meeting including brigades position on Recommendation 15 of the Ferguson Report. It seems that the AVBFB may have represented North VBFBs prior to feedback actually being received as requested at the meeting on the 18th. //**Regards** // **Mark Casotti** CESM Mundaring / Chief Bush Fire Control Officer North East Metropolitan / Operations Command Department of Fire and Emergency Services l 91 Leake St, Belmont WA 6104 **[[http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/|www.dfes.wa.gov.au]]** This email is intended for the named recipient only. The information contained within this email may be confidential or commercially sensitive. If you are not the intended recipient you must not reproduce or distribute any part of this email, disclose its contents to any other party, or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the message from your computer. **From:** David Wilson\\ **Sent:** Wednesday, 3 August 2016 12:21 AM\\ **To:** JOHN MANGINI; 'John Mangini'; Zak Tilbury\\ **Cc:** CASOTTI Mark; HAY Phillip; MILLS Rik; O'NEILL Jamie; 'Paul Postma'\\ **Subject:** RE: Release Hi John Thank you for the reply. I feel I need to correct your takeaway from my input at the meeting. If you recall I spoke against the option of forming a separate entity within DFES based on my own experience in the 90’s as a member of FESA where I felt this model __was not__ a perfect model. As a regular attendee of exec meetings as the Training Manager at FESA at this time, I am on record in Brigade minutes as expressing my concerns on the challenges in supporting and training volunteers. At no time during the July meeting did I speak in support the move to a rural fire service at our recent meeting, nor should my comments on the challenges of an ‘integrated’ model be considered as a vote of support for an ‘independent’ rural fire service. Whilst there was some enthusiastic discussion on the pros and cons of a move to a rural fire service at our meeting in July, the understanding I came away with was that representatives were being asked to consult with our Brigades with respect to Recommendation 15 of the Ferguson report and report back to the Association. In the absence of an agenda asking representatives to seek the input of our Brigades prior to the meeting, this is the only outcome that could be expected from the meeting. In support of my own understanding, I attended a meeting of Muchea Brigade this evening who, from the discussion I witnessed, will formally support the position of Upper Chittering in their response to the association. I also understand that Lower Chittering will be responding in a similar manner. As this represents all three Brigades from the Shire of Chittering who were in attendance at the July meeting, it is a clear indication that there is not the uniform support from all Shires in our zone for the formation of a rural fire service in the absence of additional information and informed discussion. In terms of the manner of responses you mention have been received, I do have some concerns on the adhoc nature through which the Association seems to be gathering and recording feedback. Given the significance of such a decision on the future of our service, I would have thought it critical that a formal/structured process for seeking and recording responses be established. In your email today you referenced the Brexit vote and the importance of ensuring individuals have their view considered. I think we would all agree that a fundamental flaw in the Brexit vote was that many did not understand the broader impact of what they were voting for. This is the same view that was expressed at the Upper Chittering meeting and the meeting I attended at Muchea this evening. As our representative, the Association has a very important, and valuable, role to play in assisting Brigades in making an informed decision. This is the basis of the request from Upper Chittering for the Association to provide a brief on their views of the pros and cons of establishing a rural fire service. With this information then, and only then, will our Brigade feel confident in making a decision that is in the best interest of the future of our service. Your assistance as our representative in taking this position to the Association will be much appreciated. Kind regards David **From:** JOHN MANGINI\\ **Sent:** Tuesday, August 2, 2016 8:37 PM\\ **To:** 'David Wilson' ; 'John Mangini' ; Zak Tilbury\\ **Cc:** 'CASOTTI Mark' ; 'HAY Phillip' ; 'MILLS Rik' ; 'O'NEILL Jamie' ; 'Paul Postma'\\ **Subject:** RE: Release Hi David, Note that the media release is a joint effort by all of the organisations named, they agreed that the AVBFB President should be the spokesperson with the media. The AVBFB committee held a special meeting on Saturday 30th July to discuss our response to the Ferguson Report. This was the only opportunity for us to meet as a group before the WAFES Conference in Sept due to a majority of delegates being in the regions and having to travel significant distances, other commitments coming up, and the charity fundraiser held that night meant several had already planned to travel to Perth. 11 of the 13 current committee members attended, and amongst those who attended the support for an independent Rural Fire Service was unanimous. The decision to support the proposal is based on the feedback that each of the committee from across the state have received from their zones, which very strongly supports the independent RFS model, and for control of the ESL to be removed from DFES. A very clear majority of the feedback I have received from North Metro, by various means including copies of submissions, emails and phone calls, and conversations also supports these views. That position was also reinforced by the discussions and opinions expressed at the 18th July meeting, including the views you yourself expressed. There was no official "vote" as such across all brigades, as to whether to support an independent Rural Fire Service, however there have been a number of reminders to contribute to the debate. We relied on what each of us received as feedback from our members. It would be very difficult to get a vote in the short time frame required. In the regions some brigades meet formally just once a year, others only a few times in each year and not at all in the "off" season. There is and has been plenty of material put out there. The AVBFB weekly newsletter and website has had a significant number of articles. The Ferguson Report itself gives a good discussion across a range of areas. In particular re the RFS model, while Ferguson does offer remaining under DFES as an alternative option, in the discussion in the main body of the report there is plenty of material which shows that this is not his preferred view. The media gave the subject a lot of attention in the aftermath of the fires, and also when the report was released. Other forums and interest groups ranging from the Bush Fire Front to the United Firefighters Union to the Conservation Council etc have expressed their views in the media and in their social media etc. We also discussed the main issues at the 18th July meeting in Swan. I hope that this response addresses your concerns Rgds John **From:** David Wilson\\ **Sent:** Tuesday, 2 August 2016 11:14 AM\\ **To:** John Mangini; John Mangini\\ **Cc:** CASOTTI Mark; HAY Phillip; MILLS Rik; O'NEILL Jamie; Paul Postma\\ **Subject:** RE: Release Hi John At a meeting of the Upper Chittering Fire Service this week it was moved that we are unable to respond to the request by the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades to vote on the formation of an independent rural fire service in the absence of a detailed brief on the benefits and risks that would be associated with Recommendation 15 of the Ferguson report. In the absence of such a well-considered discussion it is therefore not possible for the Upper Chittering Fire Brigade to support the proposition that is outlined within the attached media brief. In the interest of transparency, we would like to request a full breakdown of the Brigade voting on this issue from across each zone. As you can appreciate, it is essential in this process that the Brigades have the confidence that statements that are being made on behalf of the membership, reflect the views of the membership. In releasing such a media statement without further dialogue with Brigades on the responses received, and proposed actions, there is a real danger of Brigades openly challenging the proposed media statement, thereby undermining the position of the association in further discussions with the Government and associated agencies. Kind regards, David ------------------------------------ David Wilson Upper Chittering Fire Brigade \\ **From:** John Mangini\\ **Sent:** Tuesday, 2 August 2016 10:31 AM\\ **To:** John Mangini\\ **Cc:** CASOTTI Mark ; HAY Phillip ; MILLS Rik ; O'NEILL Jamie ; Paul Postma\\ **Subject:** FW: Release\\ **Importance:** High Good morning North Metro Brigades and CBFCOs, Attached is a media release from a number of groups with a stake in bush fire risk management. Please distribute through your networks. Kind Regards\\ John Mangini\\ Secretary - Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of WA Incorporated\\ Web: [[http://www.avbfb.org.au/|www.avbfb.org.au]]\\ \\