Reform journey
Journey to the TFES Reforms
The current work to replace the Fire Service Act 1979, amend the Emergency Management Act 2006 and establish the Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service (TFES) in legislation, bringing together the TFS and SES onto a common operating platform is the culmination of almost a decade of consideration, examination and consultation.
The timeline below outlines the significant reviews, reports and consultations in the journey to date.
2016
The House of Assembly Standing Committee on Community Development’s Inquiry into the State Fire Commission recommended that a review of the Fire Service Act 1979 was necessary. Until this time, the structure, features and functions of the Act had not been closely reviewed since it was proclaimed.
2017
The Tasmanian Government endorsed a review of the Fire Service Act 1979 to provide advice about how the Government could best reform the legislation and fire service.
The review also focused on the synergies between the SES and the TFS, to consider the best operating platform for both organisations.
Mr Michael Harris was appointed to lead the Fire Service Act Review.
2018
The Harris Issues Paper (Issues Paper – Review of the Fires Service Act 1979) was released for public consultation in 2018. The Issues paper posed a series of questions regarding considerations for inclusion within a new Fire Service Act.
There were 39 responses received in respect to the Harris Issues paper.
2020
Mr Mike Blake was appointed to analyse responses to the Harris Issues paper and develop a draft report with recommendations for drafting of the new Fire Service Act.
2021
The Blake Report was released in August 2021, and in October 2021 Treasury released an Options Paper considering the potential impacts of different funding models.
Twenty submissions were received, and a series of targeted face-to-face meetings focusing on the Blake Report recommendations were conducted by Mr Michael Stevens thereafter.
2022
Mr Stevens produced a report (the Stevens Report) outlining a position in respect to the recommendations made in the Blake Report, including whether those recommendations should be adopted, adopted in principle with further analysis required, rejected or alternatives offered.
2023
In September 2023, a consultation bill that addressed the Blake and Stevens Reports recommendations was released, remaining open for feedback until 1 December 2023. Fifty-two written responses were received from individuals, organisations and businesses during the consultation period.
2024
In June 2024, Mr Jeremy Smith AFSM was appointed the inaugural Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner.
Following consideration of the feedback received to the 2023 consultation Bill, the Tasmanian Government announced the future of the TFES Reforms.
A Position Paper on the structure and operation of a State Fire and Emergency Services Commission, to replace the State Fire Commission, was released for consultation. Consultation closed on 28 February 2025 with 19 submissions being received.
2025
Please see the page Tasmania Fire Service > Reform for information on the current status of reforms.
Further information
- Issues Paper – Review of the Fire Service Act 1979 – June 2018 (Harris Issues Paper) and submissions received
- Review of the Fire Service Act 1979 – Mike Blake – October 2020 and submissions received
- Review of the Fire Service Act 1979 – Options Paper: Fire Service Funding Arrangements – 2021 (Treasury Options Paper)
- Fire Service Act Review – Consultation Outcomes Report on the Blake Review and Treasury Options Paper – Michael Stevens – October 2022 (PDF, 484KB)
- Fire and Emergency Services Act Reform Recommendations (from the Stevens and Blake reports) – January 2023 (PDF, 245KB)
- Consultation Draft – Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service Bill 2023 and submissions received
- Position Paper – State Fire and Emergency Services Commission (November 2024) and submissions received