❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding DBCA's resources for bushfire mitigation in the South West, including staffing levels, budget allocation, and vacant positions. The answer reveals an increase in FTEs dedicated to fire management over the past five years.

I refer to all employees of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and I ask:(a) How many FTE's are currently allocated specifically to prescribed burning and bushfire mitigation in the South West Region;(b) How many FTE's were allocated to those functions five years ago;(c) What is the dollar amount of DBCA’s total staffing budget that is directed to frontline fire operations;(d) What is the dollar amount of DBCA's total staffing budget that is directed to administrative duties at the Kensington head office; and(e) What is the current number of vacant regional fire management positions?

(a)        There are 346 FTEs allocated specifically to prescribed burning and bushfire mitigation   across the three forest regions in the south west of the State. (b)        There were 322 FTEs allocated to those functions across the same area five years ago. (c)        The dollar amount of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ (DBCA) total staffing budget that is directed to frontline fire operations is $27,500,171 in the 2025/26 financial year. (d)          The dollar amount of DBCA’s total staffing budget that is directed to administrative duties at the Kensington head office is $18,685,294 for the 2025/26 financial year. Administrative duties includes Legal, Policy and Legislation, Public Information and Corporate Affairs, People and Culture, Radio Communication Services, Office of Information Management, Procurement and Audit, Integrity and Risk. (e)          The current number of vacant regional fire management positions is 52. These vacancies reflect normal workforce movements, including resignations, workers’ compensation and other medical matters that prevent some staff from undertaking frontline duties, and recruitment challenges in some regional locations. DBCA is actively addressing these vacancies through ongoing recruitment efforts.