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AAP
AAP
National
Marty Silk

Qld govt still mulling fire, SES reports

Queensland is bracing for wet weather, with a third La Nina event increasing the chance of floods. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The Queensland government is being urged to publicly release reviews of the state's two emergency services units before the upcoming storm season.

The government has been holding a report on the State Emergency Service for more than two years, and a report on the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services for more than nine months.

Firefighting unions, regional mayors and the state opposition have been calling for both reviews to be released, but the government has said it is still "considering" both reports.

Liberal National Party emergency spokesman Dale Last says the reports must be made public before this year's storm season begins, with a third La Nina event increasing the chance of floods.

"When the minister announced this review, he said it was in the best interests of safety. Here we are facing a risk to the safety of Queenslanders but, instead of acting on the review, the minister is keeping it secret," Mr Last said in a statement.

Former Emergency Management Australia director-general Michael Darby and QFES commissioner Brian Cox handed their review of the SES to then emergency services minister Craig Crawford in August 2020.

Accounting firm KPMG's review of the QFES structure was handed to the government in November 2021.

Mr Last said with another La Nina forecast it was vital to start on any reforms recommended in both reports, because some could take time to fully implement.

He said professional and volunteer emergency services deserved to know if the structures of their organisations were fit for purpose.

"Minister Ryan is on the record as saying that the aim of the QFES review was 'to determine what works, what does not and what can work better'," Mr Last said.

"If the minister has any respect for emergency services workers and volunteers, he needs to step up and act on what does not work and what can work better.

"All Queenslanders will be hoping that we do not see a repeat of the 22 lives lost and the more than $1 billion in damages we saw over the last summer. What they shouldn't have to hope for is a minister who will actually be up front with them and the people that help them in their time of need."

This month, Deputy Premier Steven Miles told a budget estimates hearing that Queensland was the most disaster-affected state in Australia, having been hit by 97 significant natural disasters since 2010-11.

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