Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service (TFES) Reforms

What are the TFES Reforms, and what is changing?

The world our fire and emergency services operate in has changed with more frequent and severe emergency events.

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

Position Paper – State Fire and Emergency Services Commission

Feedback open – 3 December 2024

Feedback close – 14 February 2025.

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 is welcome to help inform drafting. Feedback is welcome between 3 December 2024 and 14 February 2025.

How to provide feedback

All written feedback must please be received by 5pm on Friday, 14 February 2025.

You can make a submission by:

• Email to tfes@dpfem.tas.gov.au, or
• Post to TFES Reform Submissions, Strategy and Support, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management, GPO Box 308, Hobart, TAS 7001

Important: By making a submission, you agree to its publication on this website.

Publishing submissions

Other than indicated below, submissions will be treated as public information and will be published online at www.fire.tas.gov.au/reform/

Submissions will be published once the Government consideration of the submissions has concluded.

No personal information other than an individual’s name or the organisation making a submission will be published.