Department of Treasury and Finance, $70,268,000

Administered Items for the Department of Treasury and Finance, $1,752,379,000

Membership:

Ms Redmond substituted for Mr Tarzia.

Minister:

Hon. P. Malinauskas, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr M. Jackman, Chief Executive, SAFECOM.

Mr J. Schirmer, Manager Financial Services, SAFECOM.

Mr C. Beattie, Chief Officer, South Australian State Emergency Service.

Ms S. Di Ciocco, Business Manager, South Australian State Emergency Service.

Mr G. Crossman, Chief Officer, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.

Ms L. Lew, Business Manager, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.

Mr G. Nettleton, Chief Officer, South Australian Country Fire Service.

Ms J. Best, Business Manager, South Australian Country Fire Service.

The CHAIR: Welcome back, minister. In the post-lunch session, by agreement, you are appearing as the Minister for Emergency Services from 1.15 to 2.15 and as the Minister for Road Safety from 2.15 to 2.45. Are we all agreed? I declare the proposed payments open for examination and I refer members to the Agency Statements, Volume 4. I now invite the minister to introduce his advisers.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I will start by introducing the gentlemen who are sitting in the front with me. On my right, I have Mr Chris Beattie, who is the Chief Officer of the State Emergency Service, on my left is Mr Greg Nettleton, who is the Chief Officer of the Country Fire Service, and on his left is Mr Greg Crossman, who is the Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Service. Behind me, I also have Mr Malcolm Jackman, who is the Chief Executive of SAFECOM. For the sake of the record, I understand that, in terms of the way proceedings operate, I will provide an opening statement, but I think the questions are going to be directed at the representatives of the three agencies, and we will leave questions for SAFECOM to the end. That is the proposition.

The CHAIR: Excellent. Please proceed.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to start by putting on the record an acknowledgment of the outstanding work of our emergency services sector over the past 12 months. In particular, 2016 was a very busy year. It was one of the wettest, windiest and most turbulent that our state has faced in recent memory. It is perhaps no surprise that this translated into the SES's busiest year on record ever, as they worked shoulder to shoulder with our other emergency service agencies, particularly the CFS but also the MFS, SAPOL and SA Ambulance, as well as the ADF and non-government organisations and everyday South Australians.

To give just a small snapshot of what this actually meant for the State Emergency Service and the sector more broadly, we are talking about more than 16,000 callouts in the 2016-17 financial year, which is more than double the yearly average experienced over the last 10 years: 300 tonnes of sand was loaded into 300,000 sandbags and 340 interstate volunteers were brought in to assist with local efforts. Yet, in the face of it all, I can confidently say that the sector demonstrated remarkable skill, expertise and tenacity befitting what many South Australians recognise as operating amongst the world's very best in terms of emergency services.

As a state, we are fortunate that in times of need we are able to rely upon our men and women in uniform, and I am extremely proud of the sector's efforts over the last 12 months. While volunteers and paid staff from our sector often and deservedly receive recognition for their efforts, I believe it is just as important that we take time to acknowledge the valuable ongoing support that SAFECOM provides our emergency services agencies.

Whether it is through finance, volunteer support or access to the latest training modules, I think I can safely speak on behalf of the chief officers in saying that the work SAFECOM does is critical to enabling responding agencies to focus their efforts on the front line. The vital work of Surf Life Saving SA and also our volunteer Marine Rescue unit should also not be forgotten for the significant contribution they make to the safety of South Australians along our coastlines.

I feel it is important to note the fact, during a time like budget estimates, that our emergency services sector is funded solely and entirely by the emergency services levy. While all property owners make contributions to the ESL, thankfully very few will count themselves as beneficiaries of the services provided. Even though many households will never call upon our emergency services sector, in the unfortunate event that they need to, the public will remain blind to the badge on the truck or the colour of the uniform. They can safely and reasonably expect the nearest, fastest and most appropriate response at their doorstep.

As part of this year's budget some of the additional measures for our sector include $3.1 million to the MFS and SES to improve the processes for 000 and 13 2500; $1.5 million to the SES to ensure compliance with new national maritime laws; and $900,000 to the MFS for new level 1 PPE, level 2 PPE, helmets and chemical protective clothing for firefighters.

Another highlight of the past financial year was delivering $470,000 for the third round of grants under the Regional Capability Community Fund. This means we will see another $1 million worth of equipment, such as farm firefighting units, bulk water storage and personal protective clothing delivered to individuals and organisations across the state.

All things considered, I am fortunate to have in this portfolio some of the hardest working but also humble individuals. I would like to thank the chief officers and also the chief executive for their frank advice and continued efforts over the last 12 months. Looking ahead, the sector is in capable hands and I look forward to continuing to work together with the sector to build upon the successes that we have achieved so far in recent years.

The CHAIR: Thank you, minister. Member for Schubert, do you have an opening statement at all?

Mr KNOLL: Only a brief one to acknowledge that the SES has had an extremely busy year and we are very grateful for the work they do and also grateful for the fact that the number of bushfire incidents was significantly down for the CFS, which is also very good news because it tends to be my electorate that wants to burn down. We have been very grateful to have a year off this year. Hopefully, the lower level of incidents can continue, although we cannot be complacent that that will be the case.

Can I first move to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 63. It is CFS in regard to front-line service delivery. Minister, I think you will understand what is coming, because this is a perennial that my predecessor has been asking for a number of years: do you have any further update on the transitioning of the Mount Barker CFS station to an MFS-retained station, and do you have a date on when that is likely to occur?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I can provide some basic information regarding Mount Barker. The member for Schubert is right in saying that this has been an ongoing challenge that has existed for a number of years and something that the sector generally is still grappling with. In 2013, the Mount Barker CFS raised concerns that Mount Barker requires an urban orientated emergency service.

Mr KNOLL: Sorry, that is?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: It is 2013. The South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission began a review process, and an inclusive report was prepared and delivered in 2014. The Mount Barker urban fire and rescue enhancement project, and associated trial, was approved by the SAFECOM board on 25 March 2015. MFS appliances, training and equipment were provided and maintained in situ upon completion of that trial.

The primary objective of the trial was to ascertain whether the provision of different appliances plus additional training and equipment would reduce risk to the community. The trial concluded in June 2016 and a report was prepared by the deputy chief officers of the CFS and MFS and delivered in September 2016. The report focused on the specific technical terms of reference of the trial but also identified that a change in the service delivery model for the greater Mount Barker community would, at some time into the future, need to be considered seriously.

A proposal was prepared as part of the financial year 2017-18 budget cycle for additional funding to allow for the MFS volunteer brigade to transition to the station; however, that was not provided for in this year's budget round. At this point in time, the existing arrangements in Mount Barker will need to remain in place and the CFS continues, with the Mount Barker brigade issues, solutions and requirements, to ensure current service levels can be maintained. A new urban pumper will be delivered in the first half of the financial year 2017-18, and work continues on determining a statewide fire and rescue plan which will provide greater clarity for future requirements. Based on these requirements, we will seek to pursue a strategic landholding in Mount Barker in due course.

Just a couple of other remarks I would add: I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet in coming weeks—I think, without checking my diary, it is in the next few weeks—Mr Andrew Chapman from the local CFS brigade, who I know has been a passionate local advocate on this issue for some time. I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet him face to face to canvass this issue more broadly.

It is also important to note that the outstanding work of the CFS brigade in Mount Barker continues. They are a well-resourced but also, more importantly, highly committed brigade for their local community, and the advice I have received up until this point in time demonstrates that that commitment continues, and their response times are very good.

The local community in Mount Barker—I think the state, but particularly in Mount Barker—can be particularly grateful for that CFS brigade for providing an outstanding service. They are a very well trained brigade with cutting-edge equipment and are doing an outstanding job of keeping that local community safe in a way that is consistent with community expectations on the issue.

Ms REDMOND: Can I ask a supplementary in relation to that, not just specifically about Mount Barker but about the broader Hills area and, of course, in particular around Stirling, where I know that the Stirling CFS brigade already does more than 50 per cent of its callouts as non-bushfire related.

That said, although it is considerably closer to the city, the blocks are larger, so there are fewer infilled urban structures. We are coming up (this summer) to 35 years since Ash Wednesday, and we have not had a major burn through there. The CFS component is largely volunteer, and I believe it is fantastic and we should be developing our MFS paid people in those other areas, which are necessary up in the Hills now, but keeping our CFS volunteers, who do a great job on road accidents and all sorts of things as well.

What is being put in place to ensure the capacity in the broader Hills area of those CFS brigades as we approach 35 years since Ash Wednesday? We have had some close calls with Sampson Flat and others, with winds expected to be at 110 km/h heading down from the north into that area. It could be the equivalent of Black Saturday in Melbourne.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I might invite Chief Officer Nettleton to provide some operational remarks in regard to activity in and around the Hills. Before he does that, I will provide some general commentary. You are quite right, we are approaching 35 years and the area itself has changed. There are more people living in the area now, and needs and circumstances change as well. The general answer to your question is what governments of both persuasions have been doing since then to invest more substantially in our Country Fire Service. I had the experience of being in the Hills a few months ago and had the opportunity—

Ms REDMOND: Take a picnic lunch, did you?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: No, I was in the Hills for a particular event with the CFS—and I am trying to recall exactly which brigade it was, as I have seen a few—and saw a whole bunch of equipment there that was used during the Ash Wednesday incident, and it is quite remarkable to look at the resources and tools that volunteer firefighters were using during Ash Wednesday compared with what is at their disposal now. It is astronomical how much change has occurred, and that is a credit to not just this government but to others as well.

We continue to invest in the CFS with a whole range of additional technologies and equipment to make sure that they are better equipped to deal with an Ash Wednesday-like incident. More than that, there have also been substantial investments in training to be able to deal with those. The training these days is a lot more sophisticated than it was 35 years ago, as you would reasonably expect, so the combination of training, equipment and collaboration between the agencies puts the state in a strong position to be able to deal with such an event, notwithstanding the fact that every bushfire, particularly a major one, brings with it its own unique risks and characteristics. I will invite Chief Nettleton to provide some additional remarks with regard to the Hills.

Mr NETTLETON: That was at Uraidla. I am Greg Nettleton, Chief Officer, South Australian Country Fire Service. In relation to all our brigades, bushfire comprises about 30 per cent of the work our brigades do. Road crash, road vehicle-related events, is about another 30 per cent, or a bit under; structure fires—we do a fair bit of work in that space and also provide assistance to SES. The act requires CFS to combat fires and other emergencies, so it is not specific around bushfires, that is why bushfire is only but a part of the work that the Stirling brigade does.

In response to your question about increased capacity in the Hills, we do not have a plan to establish any additional brigades in the Hills. We do have a plan to upgrade the level of capability in one of the Hills brigades at Belair, but we have created a metropolitan reserve component based out at Salisbury where people who do not live near a CFS station can still volunteer, and we have used them quite successfully over the last couple of seasons to supplement resources in places like the Hills. We intend to continue to grow that, and we are looking at, potentially in the long term, establishing two of those metropolitan reserve capabilities.

Ms REDMOND: Can I ask another supplementary on that? Through the minister, could the chief officer advise how many people are volunteering? I have been trying on behalf of one of the local brigades at which we recently met to try to increase the membership locally by approaching the community at large and advising how little time it takes to be involved in comparison to the huge benefit to the community. But I do not think we have had a huge response to it. Is the Salisbury based metropolitan idea engendering some activity and some genuine involvement by people living down here who want to be involved in that way?

Mr NETTLETON: Yes, it is. It is still growing quite a strong group of people now. What we have found is we have been able to capture people who once lived in the country who now live in the metropolitan area, and because there is no CFS brigade close by, they have rejoined the CFS. A number of our outer metropolitan brigades, and that is where our strength is and that is where we draw our surge capacity from, some of those brigades are pretty much at their maximum membership. If a brigade in the Hills is at its maximum membership, people go to that metropolitan reserve brigade we have at Salisbury and they are trained up there, then when a vacancy comes up in Stirling, for instance, they will go into the Stirling brigade.

Mr KNOLL: If I could ask some more questions on this line, minister. You said here that Mount Barker would at some time need to be considered to move across, so I assume it is going to happen at some point. It is turning into quite an urban metropolis. Can I ask how much it would cost to transition to retain the MFS model? I am sure that work has been done.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Let's go back over a couple of points. The first thing is that there are a number of options that could potentially be considered when such an effort was made. I think the most important work that is being undertaken at the moment within the sector regarding this is the statewide fire and rescue plan. That plan will help inform our decisions regarding areas like Mount Barker going forward. It should be known that there is more than one model when it comes to the provision of the service from the Metropolitan Fire Service. You can have a full-time station or a retained station, so there are a number of options available. Sorry, your question was?

Mr KNOLL: How much would it cost to transition to a retained station?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: To a retained station? For the sake of accuracy, what we might do is take that question on notice and we can provide it in due course.

Mr KNOLL: Has any land been acquired in Mount Barker for such a move?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: No.

Mr KNOLL: At this stage, you do not have any estimated date of when this is going to happen?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: No.

Mr KNOLL: Is it likely to be before or after 2020?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I am reluctant to speculate around such a date. I think that would not serve the community particularly well. There is not a specific date in mind. I mentioned earlier that strategically an acquisition is something that the MFS does and the MFS, to their great credit, tend to take a long-term view on these matters when it comes to a strategic land acquisition. They have a number of sites around the state that they have acquired in order to be strategic about the location of MFS services going forward. My advice is that this has not occurred yet in respect of Mount Barker. It would be potentially unfair to the local community to put a specified date on this at this particular point in time when we are still at such preliminary stages.

Mr KNOLL: If I can move on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 66, targets. I did a bit of a reconciliation versus last year in relation to the stations that were proposed to be built and the ones that were actually built. It seems like stations at Lock and Delamere were not built.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: For the CFS?

Mr KNOLL: Yes. In the highlights, it says that new stations have been constructed at Farrell Flat, Gawler River and a whole heap of other places, but I note from the previous year that stations at Lock and Delamere were proposed to be built in the financial year but were not.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: My advice is that both those stations have now been built and opened.

Mr KNOLL: Obviously, it just did not make the highlights. Has the Rockleigh station actually been completed?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: No, it is under construction at the moment.

Mr KNOLL: And that native title claim is now out of the way?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Say that again?

Mr KNOLL: I was just saying that native title claims have now been settled.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: There have been a number of complications with the Rockleigh site. I think we were chatting earlier in a prisons context around Port Augusta Prison. Naturally, there are some things that can prohibit anticipated dates of construction or building being realised, and that was certainly the case in the case of the Rockleigh station.

Mr KNOLL: If I can move on now to looking at Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, around the investing expenditure and about the equipment upgrade program. I am working my way through this technology. How many of the CFS trucks have selective catalytic reduction or AdBlue systems attached to them? I understand that some of these systems are inbuilt and some of them are post-market additions.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: We will have to take that one on notice to get those numbers for you. Is there something you specifically want to ask?

Mr KNOLL: Sure. It is something that attaches to the exhaust system. I assume it is about reducing carbon emissions from the exhaust. There is a process that it goes through. Again, the new cabs tend to have it fitted in, and I think there are some for which this AdBlue thing is an aftermarket thing that is attached. Essentially, it heats the carbon within the exhaust to a very high temperature. What I am trying to get to the bottom of is whether or not that is a fire hazard in something sitting in a few hundred degrees at the bottom of the truck that may be sitting in a field somewhere. I want to understand if that is an issue that has been considered. Have there been any incidents as a result of this?

The Hon. S.W. KEY: But where is it in the budget?

Mr KNOLL: It is in the capital works and vehicle and equipment replacement.

The Hon. P. Caica interjecting:

The CHAIR: Order, member for Colton!

Mr PEDERICK: If he wants to go, keep him here.

The CHAIR: Keep him here.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: We will take your question on notice. What I can say, though, is that I am advised that the new trucks that are delivered to the CFS are compliant with the Euro 5 standard, which speaks to issues around emissions and so forth, and vis-a-vis fire risk potentially as well. For the sake of accuracy, we will take on notice the question that you are asking. I would also mention that if there is a specific concern that you are referring to or a question that someone has raised with you, if you are happy to provide that information to my office that would enable us then to look more accurately at the particular inquiry that you raise.

Mr PEDERICK: I would like to ask a supplementary question, thanks. In regard to that, have there been any reports from any brigades of any of these trucks fitted with these devices lighting fires with these catalytic converters?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: My advice is that, to the best of our knowledge, no.

Mr NETTLETON: Well—

Mr PEDERICK: I do not know; I am asking the question.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I know you are asking the question. I am at a bit of a loss. We have had two questions on this now. What I would suggest, if I may indulge: are you just asking a random question around do trucks spontaneously combust, or are you basing your question on the basis of—

Mr PEDERICK: No, minister—

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Just let me finish—or are you basing your question on a particular piece of advice or concern that has been raised in the sector? If it is the latter, I am more than happy to undertake that, if you provide that information to us, we will seek to get an answer through the agency as quickly as possible.

Mr PEDERICK: Just to confirm, the advice is that there may have been issues where these exhausts under these trucks have actually started fires.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: So, you need to provide that.

The CHAIR: The minister has invited you to provide that to him.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: If you are happy to provide those queries through my office, I will make every effort to get you an answer as expeditiously as possible.

The CHAIR: We will come back to the budget now with the member for Schubert.

Mr KNOLL: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 78, Program summary. In the ESL hearing a couple of months back, we were advised that the likely MFS overspend on the 2016-17 budget was likely to be around $2 million. I just want to ask what the actual overspend was? I suppose I could also ask whether Mr Jackman received the rap on the knuckles that he was expecting.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: What was that?

The CHAIR: I think the member for Schubert was being a little facetious. We can probably strike that from the record, could we not?

Mr KNOLL: It was from Mr Jackman's mouth during the hearing. He says he expects to get rapped over the knuckles.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: If I may, it is bit hard doing the questions in this order, but I am inclined to take that on notice because I am advised there are still some workers compensation numbers to be reconciled that will inform that number.

Mr KNOLL: If I can move on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 87, Statement of financial position, especially in relation to—

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Which agency?

Mr KNOLL: The MFS; sorry. It is in relation to leave balances. I want to read a couple of sentences from the annual report, which states:

The MFS workforce is also ageing and the replacement of highly trained and experienced personnel will pose significant challenges. Many of our long serving personnel have accrued significant leave balances during their careers while others are developing health issues associated with age.

It goes on to say firefighting is a 'physically demanding occupation while nearly a third of the operational workforce is approaching retirement age.' It is very much saying that we have kept our people and we like to keep our people because they are highly trained, but there is a cohort of them who are reaching retirement age and we have a bit of a baby booming balloon at the end. My first question on this line is: what is the policy around firefighters taking annual leave and long service leave? Is there a policy that they are allowed to continue to accrue or are they required to take certain amounts of leave on an annual basis?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: In respect to long service leave, that is accrued and people have to apply to take it. In respect to annual leave, you may be aware that, in the MFS, there is a very structured and regimented rostering regime, and within that is fixed into it when officers take their annual leave.

Mr KNOLL: So, there would not be significant annual leave balances that are accruing over time?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: My advice is that the answer to that question is no, but the nature of the way annual leave is rostered in means that it is necessarily being used up. It would only be in an exception or an unusual circumstance where you would have a member accruing a huge swathe of annual leave.

Mr KNOLL: That suffices for me at this stage. Do you have a breakdown of the profile of when this cohort of firefighters is likely to retire? It says here that nearly a third of the operational workforce is approaching retirement age. Do you have some greater clarity on those numbers?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I do not have an age breakdown per se at hand, but I am happy to take that on notice. It is something I have asked about myself. I just do not have it at hand, so I am happy to take that on notice.

Mr KNOLL: Also, minister, can you provide whether or not there will be a need for an increased budget allocation to cover off on that retirement? We have accrued these long service leave balances, and that will have a cash implication, as opposed to necessarily a—

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: That is all budgeted for.

Mr KNOLL: When will the enterprise bargaining agreement be finalised?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Mr Chairman, I am sure the member for Schubert is very conscious of the fact that it takes at least two parties to agree on when negotiations finalise. They will be finalised when agreement is reached.

Mr KNOLL: Is this EB agreement subject to the 1½ per cent wage increase cap?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: That is the policy of the government.

Mr KNOLL: When the policy was changed there were some agreements that were—well, not grandfathered in, but if negotiations had not started before that policy change came in—

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I am loath to go into the detail in terms of an EBA negotiation that is on as we speak. You would appreciate that I do not sit at the negotiating table itself. There are established processes within government about how that operates. Furthermore, whenever EBA negotiations occur, they occur on a without prejudice basis. I am not sure how it would assist the committee if I were to speculate on the current EBA process that is underway, which I assume would be occurring on a without prejudice basis. Public commentary on my part here now, I do not think would be in the state's interest or in the interests of members of the committees.

Dr McFETRIDGE: With the indulgence of the committee, Independent members have been able to ask questions in the past. On that same reference or on the EB, minister, congratulations on extending the workers compensation cover to SAPOL. Are you doing the same thing for firefighters under the EB or is there legislation? Can you tell the committee how many Metropolitan Fire Service firefighters are now at the end of the two-year cut-off period for significant injuries and are having to dip into their long service leave and other accrued leave? What is being done about that?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I would like to thank the member for Morphett for his question because it is good one. As the committee would be aware, last year the state government committed itself to resolving what could otherwise be described as a dispute with the Police Association of South Australia regarding their workers compensation arrangements. The state government, when deciding to reach a resolution on that matter with the Police Association, was very conscious of the fact that, if the government was going to provide an additional entitlement to police officers, then it would be reasonable that that entitlement also be provided to other emergency first responders.

Of course, that includes the MFS, and not just our paid employees but our volunteers as well, who do get access to workers compensation arrangements. At that same point, the government committed itself to providing the same entitlement to our fireys, along with other agencies as well. That process is being worked through as we speak, with negotiations taking place.

When we announced that policy early last year, as a result of a cabinet decision, it was the government's intent that those entitlements be provided through industrial arrangements through respective industrial instruments, typically an enterprise bargaining agreement. That does not necessarily have to be the case. Obviously, there is a complication there in respect of volunteers, and that is something we are overcoming; where volunteers do not have enterprise bargaining agreements it has to be a different industrial instrument.

To be concise, the short answer to your question is yes. That work is in train and we are providing that entitlement to Metropolitan Fire Service personnel, notwithstanding the fact that there are peculiarities in terms of the operational difference around the application of that entitlement for fireys in comparison to police officers.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Is there a cohort of MFS firefighters who have been caught up? Their two years is up now and they are having to draw on their long service leave and that sort of thing rather than workers compensation entitlements?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I would have to take that question on notice.

Dr McFETRIDGE: If there is can you make sure there is some form of cushion or compensation put in place so that they are not being—

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: That is certainly something that is being contemplated by the government, yes.

Mr KNOLL: I move on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 63, Frontline Service Delivery for the CFS. What is our current CFS aerial firefighting capacity? I am keen to unpack the arrangements, because they are obviously shared and there are contracts.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I have been advised that the CFS has 18 aircraft contracted for the fire danger season. In 2016-17, aircraft flew 210 hours and dropped 822,000 litres of fire suppressant, which is well below the five-year average—

Mr KNOLL: What is the five-year average?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I am advised the five-year average is 3,689,750 litres, and this year there was only 822,000, which is, of course, a good thing. The 2017-18 budget for aircraft is $7.6 million, and the expected expenditure for 2016-17 on aircraft is $7.067 million.

Mr KNOLL: And $7.6 million was for 2017-18?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Yes.

Mr KNOLL: And then $7.06 million was 2016-17?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Correct.

Mr KNOLL: Do you have a breakdown of the aircraft types?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: There are 18 aircraft: 10 fixed single-engine air tankers; one high-volume helicopter (the Erickson aircrane, aka Elvis); four fixed-wing surveillance aircraft; and three rotary-wing air attack observation platforms.

Mr KNOLL: In terms of Elvis, the cost of that was pooled nationally. Can you break down that arrangement? I understand Elvis comes from the US, and he leaves the building at the end of every summer.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Being of a slightly more operational nature in terms of how it is used and where it comes from, I might invite the chief to answer that.

Mr NETTLETON: The Erickson aircrane is the aircraft we are talking about, and six aircraft come to Australia every summer. They are imported by a company from Victoria. The actual air frames could come anywhere from the US, Canada, Greece or France. The contract for Australia is for six aircraft. Two go to New South Wales, two go to Victoria, one to South Australia and one to Western Australia. The aircraft is an E model aircraft. The one named Elvis is an F model aircraft, but it does not actually come to Australia. Certainly, the aircraft we get are E models.

The Australian government, through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre, provides about $15 million a year to cover off on aircraft for states and territories. Of that, South Australia gets about $1.9 million. It is not specifically for the aircrane, it is for the whole fleet.

Mr KNOLL: Is the $1.9 million figure you mentioned the cost to the CFS, or did the feds fund that?

Mr NETTLETON: It is not quite $1.9 million, but about $1.9 million is what comes to South Australia through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre out of the commonwealth allocation.

Mr KNOLL: So, we do not pay for the E class—not Elvis?

Mr NETTLETON: We do. We do not attribute that $1.9 million against a specific aircraft; it is spread across the whole fleet.

Mr KNOLL: Okay, that makes sense.

The CHAIR: Member for Schubert, I want to remind you of the time. You did say there was an agreement to go to SAFECOM at some point. I want to remind you so that you are aware of it.

Mr KNOLL: Yes, sir, I will be very quick.

The CHAIR: It is up to you.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: We are happy with however you want to do it. If you do not want to do SAFECOM—

Mr KNOLL: That is okay.

The CHAIR: It is in your hands, member for Schubert. I am just reminding people of the time, that is all.

Mr KNOLL: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 99, targets 2017-18, Regional Capability Community Fund (which is a CFS program). How much money is in the budget for 2017-18 for this program?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: The fund was commenced in 2015-16, and the commitment was $2 million over four years, so the fund is for $500,000 each year. For the sake of transparency and accuracy, of that $500,000 included in 2017-18, which is the year you asked about, $470,000 is allocated to grant fund recipients and $30,000 is provided to SAFECOM to administer the distribution of the fund.

Mr KNOLL: In Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 66, the highlights for 2016-17 show that there are 38 new trucks to be delivered this year.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Which agency?

Mr KNOLL: CFS. If there are 38 trucks in the MFS, I think Greg would get excited. What is the total cost of that truck upgrade? Can you commit to providing a schedule of where those trucks are slated to go?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Is there a brigade back home you want to know about?

Mr KNOLL: Maybe.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Every time I get asked a question about trucks by local members, there tends to be a specific brigade they have in mind.

Mr KNOLL: I did not talk about the fact that Mount Barker took Nuriootpa's truck, but that is okay.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Are you asking about the 2017-18 targets, or do you want to know about the 2016-17 outcomes?

Mr KNOLL: The upgrade for the 38 new trucks is a target for the next financial year, 2017-18.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Yes, 2017-18.

Mr KNOLL: What is the budget for it? Where are the trucks going to go?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: In terms of the vehicle breakdown, my advice is that there is priority planning for 39 new trucks, three quick response vehicles, three type 14 tankers, 11 type 34 tankers, six type 34P tankers, three type 34URP tankers, 11 type 44 tankers and two Hazmat vehicles.

In terms of where those trucks are going, it will come as no surprise that there is a plan that the CFS has in terms of where those trucks get rolled out. There is a schedule of trucks and there is a high degree of consciousness across the CFS around fleet programs, timings, rollouts, the location of various trucks and so forth. We do not have the whole program in front of us but I am happy to take that question on notice and see if we can provide a bit of detail about what that rollout schedule is for those particular new trucks.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, the MFS reference at page 76, Program net cost of services summary, $134.7 million. Under objective it states:

engage with our stakeholders and effectively plan to meet community needs…

be prepared in order to provide efficient and effective emergency services

Can the minister tell the committee if he or one of his agencies, particularly the MFS, are aware of the particular brand of aluminium panels fitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital? For the committee's information, the supplier of the aluminium cladding for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital is Yuanda Australia Pty Ltd, the same suppliers to the Perth Children's Hospital. The particular issue in the Perth Children's Hospital is a type of cladding called Haidabond.

Minister, can you tell the committee if that is the type of panel that has been supplied to the outside of the new Royal Adelaide as it is in the Perth Children's Hospital, and are there the same concerns about the new Royal Adelaide Hospital cladding as in the Perth Children's Hospital audit report?

The CHAIR: While the minister is conferring, may I just say that the minister is not directly responsible for the cladding on the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but he may have an opinion or his officers may have an opinion on it.

Dr McFETRIDGE: It is under the 'be prepared'.

The CHAIR: They are responsible for the cladding?

Dr McFETRIDGE: No, they are being prepared to provide—

The CHAIR: I see, be prepared.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Yes, you have to be prepared.

The CHAIR: As I said, the minister can answer it. He is not directly responsible for the cladding.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: The committee and the South Australian public will be pleased to know that we do have a robust process in the state when it comes to building approvals and the like. Those responsibilities do not principally rest with the MFS but, nevertheless, the MFS has a role to play in this process. Notwithstanding that, the chairman is quite right that this is not directly a responsibility, it is a planning issue. A number of years ago the MFS made some inquiries into the NRAH, and I might invite the Chief Officer of the MFS to speak to that experience to put to bed any concern around this. I know there have been queries about this in the past and we seemed to have put this information out publicly but it does not hurt to reiterate it. I will invite the chief of the MFS to provide a few remarks.

Mr CROSSMAN: Thank you, minister, and thank you very much for the question, too. The Metropolitan Fire Service built environs section within its Community Safety and Resilience Department is not responsible for the approval and compliance of particular building elements. However, it takes an interest in the conformity to building regulations national codes of construction.

Following the Lacrosse fire in Melbourne in 2015, I believe there were concerns nationally and internationally regarding the performance of cladding and particular types of cladding being used in construction within the state. The built environs section made specific contact with the private certifier of the NRAH building, with specific interest around cladding. We were able to identify that the cladding used is Alpolic wall cladding, and there is a code mark and a certificate of conformity, so we are extremely comfortable that the cladding used on the NRAH building does conform with the national construction codes.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Is it the one known as Haidabond?

Mr CROSSMAN: No, it is not.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Perth Children's Hospital has put in place evacuation plans, I suppose I would call them—they call them management-in-use procedures—for when their external sprinkler systems are turned off. Is that the same at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, minister, do you know or are you aware, or perhaps the chief can enlighten us?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Just so I understand your question, would you mind repeating it for us? Sorry.

Dr McFETRIDGE: The Perth Children's Hospital has aluminium cladding on the outside, and they have evacuation plans, I would call them; their audit calls them management-in-use procedures. If the sprinkler systems are turned off they have to have these in place. Is there anything like that here, if the external sprinkler systems are turned off?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Notwithstanding the chief's remarks that hopefully put to bed some of the concerns the member for Morphett raised regarding the cladding used in respect of the NRAH and it being safe in the MFS's opinion, your question goes to evacuation procedures that exist at the NRAH. That responsibility rests with the building operator, in this case SA Health, so I think your question would be best directed to the Minister for Health.

Dr McFETRIDGE: But don't the fireys want to know if people are out? They would want to know if the evacuation plans exist and are able to be implemented. I would have thought so. You would want to know people are out when you get there.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: That being an operational question, I am happy to invite the MFS chief to see if he can provide a bit more detail for you.

Mr CROSSMAN: Thank you very much, minister. Obviously, the performance and construction of the building is of huge interest to firefighters to ensure people do have time to evacuate the building if the building does go into a fire mode. We do not have jurisdiction on evacuation. That is, as the minister said, the responsibility of the building owners, and there are Australian standards around evacuation.

The fire service does involve itself with working with particular buildings and agencies to ensure that evacuations are appropriate, and there have been two officers particularly looking at the building fire safety provisions within the NRAH. The next phase of the NRAH operations will be an operational exercise with troops on the ground. We are extremely comfortable that all the plans in place with the NRAH are meeting our satisfaction.

Mr KNOLL: If I could just very quickly move over to SAFECOM, Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 97, program summary. We heard at the ESL hearing last year that a strategic plan for 2015 to 2025 was completed, yet I see here in the highlights for 2016-17 it says:

Developed a strategic framework for the emergency services sector to replace the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Strategic Plan 2015–2025.

Can you explain why something that was only done by the middle of last year needed to be replaced this year?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: As I suspected, the strategic plan that you referred to, which was contemplated in the context of the year 2020-25, was something that was put together when the government was in the process of analysing and contemplating a more comprehensive change strategy in respect of the emergency services sector. That was a policy that was later put to one side. That then necessitated making sure the strategic framework the sector had in operation was more consistent with current government policy, hence the more recent strategic framework you referred to being in place more recently.

Mr KNOLL: Is there an ongoing budgeted amount put aside for the developing of that framework, or has that work come to a close and those people redirected?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: My advice is that that process is now complete.

The CHAIR: As per the agreed timetable, we will now move to road safety. The minister has something to add?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I put on the record that, despite it being the busiest year on record for the State Emergency Service, they did not get one question in this place, which shows that they must have done an outstanding job.

The CHAIR: Well done. Let's get on to road safety, a subject close to my heart. There being no further questions, I declare the examination of the proposed payments referred to committee A.