Tremain's non-response to review puts people and property at risk

Civil Defence Minister Chris Tremain must explain why he rejected an independent review’s recommendation intended to stop putting ‘people and property at risk’, says Labour’s Civil Defence & Emergency Management spokesperson Lianne Dalziel.

“The Civil Defence Emergency Management earthquake review recommended that the responsibility for leading and controlling emergency response should rest solely with CDEM Groups rather than local government.

“The review said the duplication of control after the Christchurch earthquake was ‘not only inefficient but put people and property at risk’. Yet the Government has rejected this recommendation.

“The recommendation makes sense. In an emergency we can’t have a case of too many people in charge. That’s why the nine Wellington region councils adopted it.

“I have asked the minister repeatedly to explain his decision but he is unable to provide an appropriate answer. The current system puts lives and property at risk but the minister is ignoring it. That’s not good enough,” says Lianne Dalziel.