The state government has hosed down fears from Labor the state has been left exposed to heightened bushfire risk later this year due to a suspension of remote area firefighting teams by the Tasmanian Fire Service.
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Labor's emergency services spokesman Shane Broad said the suspension was due to concerns over Work Health and Safety Act breaches.
"Without them on the front-line, our remote and isolated towns, and beautiful wilderness are at real risk of fire," he said.
Emergency Services Minister Mark Shelton said the state's Parks and Wildlife Service was assisting the Tasmanian Fire Service on risk assessment, policies and protocols for remote area firefighting.
"At present the TFS will not deploy staff for remote activity, however, the PWS has a standing capability to deploy remote area firefighters should they be needed," he said.
"Tasmania can also draw on interstate resources through national arrangements if needed."
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council released a review on responses to the 2018-19 state bushfires which burned large swathes of remote-area forests over several months.
The council's report recommended the establishment of volunteer remote area firefighting teams.
United Firefighters Union Tasmanian acting-secretary Leigh Hills said the union was not opposed to the recommendation but wanted to learn more about it would be implemented practically.
He said there was a high level of skill required to undertake the task.
Mr Hills said TFS remote area firefighting teams had been suspended in part because training provided to career firefighters was insufficient.
He said the government had budgeted for a TFS member to be tasked with working out how volunteer teams could be established but there was yet to be money committed for training and necessary equipment.
The Australian Workers Union state branch, which represents Parks and Wildlife employees, said the review highlighted the need for more skilled remote area personnel.
Union organiser Kevin Midson said there were only 12 full-time remote area firefighters for the entire state and the government needed to invest in the service to get more boots on the ground.
"It's all very well to rely on volunteer firefighters, who did a magnificent job in difficult circumstances, however, our state needs more full time, specialist remote area firefighters," he said.
"Volunteers are a great back up to the career remote firefighters, but they are not able to fight remote fires for months on end."
