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
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 | Glamorgan Spring Bay Council | 13/1/25 |
| 3 | West Tamar Council | 22/1/25 |
| 4 | Tiana Hokins | 22/1/25 |
| 5 | Huon Valley Council | 29/1/25 |
| 6 | Hobart City Council | 12/2/25 |
| 7 | George Town Council | 14/2/25 |
| 8 | Central Highlands Council | 18/2/25 |
| 9 | Latrobe Council | 19/2/25 |
| 10 | Kentish Council | 27/2/25 |
| 11 | Tasmanian Retained Volunteer Firefighters Association | 28/2/25 |
| 12 | Local Government Association of Tasmania | 28/2/25 |
| 13 | Tasmanian Volunteer Fire Brigades Association | 28/2/25 |
| 14 | Tasmanian Forest Products Association | 28/2/25 |
| 15 | Community and Public Sector Union | 28/2/25 |
| 16 | State Fire Management Council | 28/2/25 |
| 17 | Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania | 28/2/25 |
| 18 | United Firefighters Union of Australia – Tasmania Branch | 3/3/25 |
| 19 | Tasmania State Emergency Service Volunteers Association | 12/3/25 |