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FACT SHEET
FIRE SERVICE AMENDMENT BILL 2011
The Fire Service Act 1979 is currently silent in relation to Commonwealth land attracting
the Fire Service Contribution. The Act exempts certain land but does not mention
Commonwealth land as being exempt.
Since 1992 the State Fire Commission and Commonwealth Government have had a
formal agreement whereby the Commonwealth pays the Commission for fire protection
services based on an estimated insured value of land. For 2009-10 the Commonwealth
payment to the Commission was $163,000. The formal agreement lapsed as at 30 June
2010 and a new agreement is currently being discussed. The Commonwealth have
previously raised concerns about double charging by the Commission first as a result of
the formal agreement and secondly as a result of some Councils charging
Commonwealth land the Fire Service Contribution.
A change to the Act will result in Councils only collecting the Fire Service Contribution
where a fire protection services agreement does not exist between the Commonwealth
and Commission. Where an agreement exists Councils would not collect the Fire
Service Contribution from any Commonwealth land covered by the "fire protection
services agreement".
The amendment will not raise any additional revenue for the Commission.