The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to ensuring the State’s emergency services are able to provide the best response to Tasmanians in need.
A $15.3 million investment over the next two years in this Budget will deliver an integrated Emergency Services Computer Aided Dispatch (ESCAD) system.
This will replace the separate systems used by Tasmania Police, Ambulance Tasmania, the Tasmania Fire Service and the State Emergency Service.
Addressing a key recommendation of the 2013 Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry, the initiative will enable our emergency services’ communications centres to better communicate with each other to improve the management of incidents requiring a multiagency response.
The ESCAD system will replace the three non-integrated CAD systems used by Tasmania Police, the Tasmania Fire Service and Ambulance Tasmania, and the manual process used by the State Emergency Service.
The system will record information about emergency incidents such as brief details, taskings, attending officers, and comments.
By improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our emergency response, the ESCAD system has the potential to save lives in Tasmania.
When delivered in 2017, ESCAD will see Tasmania leading the nation with enhanced interoperability among emergency services through a common platform.
Meanwhile, the Government’s four-year, $33.5 million investment to restore police numbers by the 108 officers cut under the previous Labor-Green government is continuing.
We expect to have 1174 officers as at 30 June 2016, which puts us well on track to achieving our target of 1228 by 2018.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Police and Emergency Management
