South Australian Country Fire Service, $750,000

South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, $3,750,000

South Australian State Emergency Service, $1,000,000

Membership:

Mr Tarzia substituted for Mr Teague.

Mr Pederick substituted for Mr Whetstone.

Ms Hutchesson substituted for Mr Brown.

Ms Savvas substituted for Ms Wortley.

Minister:

Hon. J.K. Szakacs, Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services.

Departmental Advisers:

Ms J. Waddington-Powell, Chief Executive, South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission.

Ms. J. Best, Manager, Financial Services, South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission.

Mr. M. Morgan, Chief Officer, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.

Mr G. Swan, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.

Mr M. Fernando, Business Manager, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.

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

Ms. G. Cornish, Acting Chief Officer, South Australian Country Fire Service.

The CHAIR: Welcome everybody to the examination of the portfolios of SAFECOM, Country Fire Service, SA Metropolitan Fire Service and State Emergency Service. The minister appearing is the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. I advise that the proposed payments remain open for examination. I call on the minister to make a statement, if the minister so wishes, and to introduce advisors. I call on the lead speaker for the opposition to make a statement, if he so wishes. I call on members for questions.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: With me today I have, to my left, the Chief Executive of SAFECOM, Julia Waddington-Powell; to my right I have the Acting Chief Officer of the CFS, Georgie Cornish; and to my further right I have the Chief Officer of the MFS, Michael Morgan. Behind me I have Chris Beattie, Chief Officer of the SES, and then further advisers Julie Best, Mahen Fernando and Geoff Swan. As discussed briefly with the member for Hammond, we will try to work through the best we can to cover off the questions and shuffle advisors around, but we are in the members' hands as to the way we do that.

I have a couple of brief opening remarks. I think it is important to note where we have come from in the last two years in respect of COVID and also to acknowledge and thank the extraordinary work that has been undertaken in that time from volunteers and from paid staff across our emergency services sector. I have done so this morning across my other portfolio areas, but this has particular and special recognition because so many of the men and women who serve our state from the emergency services sector are volunteers and they do so out of a calling for service to the community and they do so because of a dedication to their fellow South Australians.

In doing that, I note the member for Hammond, a CFS volunteer himself, and thank him for the work that he does both as local member and also as a volunteer. I have spoken a bit about your service and particularly about your farm firefighting units, and I am sure we will get to that a bit later.

The extraordinary cooperation between the agencies through this pandemic period has been quite extraordinary. I think we are in a place in South Australia now where we can remark that we are in a better place for the pandemic response with the coordination, cooperation and co-resourcing in a number of areas: our emergency services, SAPOL, SA Health and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

There are a number of matters that have been led particularly by this sector and particularly by SAFECOM and the SES in respect of their coordination of RAT distribution as well as a mobile and adaptable workforce that was geared up and scaled up by the SES in support of SAPOL operations. I know from my conversations and briefings with the police commissioner that he is extraordinarily grateful for the service of the SES volunteers who stepped up in those paid roles to support COVID operations across our state.

I also note, as I flagged, the role the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) have played within the management of the pandemic. The State Emergency Information Call Centre was maintained by SAFECOM. It was activated and ready at various times through the management of the pandemic. The surge capacity that SAFECOM was able to mobilise in that period, particularly in 2020 to 2022, greatly assisted the statewide support and operations that were undertaken.

SAFECOM has also been the lead agency in the close contact program RAT distribution that our state continues to roll out, and will be rolling out through 2022-23. It is a program which continues to be funded and continues to be led by SAFECOM. To date, there are 55 sites across metropolitan and regional South Australia that have been distributing free RAT tests to close contacts. We know how important our testing and close contact regime has been with managing the spread of COVID in our community.

I do note that, as we have received health advice in just the last couple of days that would suggest or indicate that modelling will have an uptick in COVID cases over the next number of weeks, the ongoing support of this work and the ongoing work that is undertaken by a combination of SAFECOM, paid staff from other agencies, as well as supported by NGOs like the Red Cross and Surf Life Saving South Australia, will be critical and does continue to be critical to our statewide COVID response.

To date, 1.2 million tests have been distributed. I also note that voting packs—a number in the hundreds—were distributed on that election day back in March, which I remember so fondly for a number of reasons.

The work that we will examine today is supported, as I said, by our extraordinary volunteers and our paid staff; they are well placed to support the community across the forward estimates. The state is in extraordinarily good hands when it comes to the leadership of our emergency services sector. I thank all of the chief officers, their staff and volunteers for their work for the community and also in preparation for today's estimates.

Mr PEDERICK: I have a brief opening statement. I, too, would like to thank all the officers and volunteers involved right across the sector, especially in light of not just the emergency work that seems to have to happen every year but the work that everyone did in the management of COVID-19. I also want to acknowledge the work of the former government in regard to the emergency services, but the volunteers especially: well done.

We will go with SAFECOM. My first question is on Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 73, highlights 2021-22, dot point 1. Is the new purpose-built emergency services headquarters at Keswick completely finished?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is; it has moved in. In the first couple of days after being cleared of COVID—I tested positive for COVID two days after I was sworn in as a minister, so I cannot say that I was able to get down there in the first two days, but within the first couple of days thereafter—I was very pleased to spend considerable time at the emergency services headquarters. I do note the member for Hartley, who is here today, and the role the former government had in delivering that capital project.

I am very pleased as a new minister to be supporting the tenancy migration over the forward estimates, particularly in 2022-23, but it is a good building and it is fit for purpose. Having spent considerable time in a former life in the old emergency services building, I think we can all agree that it is a marked improvement.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 73, highlights 2021-22, dot point 4: is SAFECOM still providing assistance to the state Logistics Functional Support Group in their response to the South Australian rapid antigen test close contact program?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Absolutely they are. SAFECOM is continuing to provide support for the delivery of that project, as I mentioned just a moment ago. I think it is very important to note in estimates today that this pandemic is not over and that the vigilance that the South Australian community have operated within in the last two years continues to be necessary. With the uptick of cases there are two things that are incredibly important to ensure we maintain a safe community and that we lower and flatten that curve and the strain on our hospital system, the first of which is a testing regime.

If there are even the mildest of symptoms, get tested, and that is a combination within the state of RAT testing as well as PCR testing. The distribution of the RAT testing that is facilitated by SAFECOM for household close contacts is a central pillar of that response. As I said, there are a series of moving parts within that, but to contemplate that, as of today, 1.3 million RAT tests have been distributed is quite profound.

I spent some time very early on at one of these sites as the minister just thanking the people involved. They are highly dedicated and this government continues to fund and will be funding across 2022-23 the ongoing management of the RAT distribution through this sector. We will respond as the health advice maintains, but there is no indication whatsoever at this stage that that will change in the foreseeable future.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 3, page 111, emergency services, major projects: this is about the automatic vehicle location system. This project was expected to be completed by mid-2023. Is the rollout of the AVL system on time and within the budget of $5,625,000?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Before this government was sworn in, the advice to the former government was very clear—and I am glad the former minister is here—that this project was not on time. It was not on time for a number of reasons. I do not have access as a new minister to some briefings that were provided to the former government, either to the minister or to cabinet, but I can say that the advice provided to the former government was that this project would not be delivered by June 2022.

It was very clear that there were failings in the delivery of the app in its initial phases by the vendor. I have been most disappointed to inherit as a new minister a series of failings by the vendor. I will not go as far today as suggesting—and I do not intend to—that the former minister would have been in there delivering or installing this app personally, but there have been significant delays in the delivery of the app and that has meant that there have been a series of rolling and fluctuating changes to the delivery of the project as a result of that pilot phase being significantly compromised.

By way of time line for the member, the application was contracted to be delivered on 29 October 2021, and it was not completed until 28 February 2022. That has meant that all of the associated testing and then installation of terminals has been compromised and delayed. Again, I am more than happy today to go through that time line with the member because I am sure that he has had a degree of briefing on this as well.

The other concerning matter I found when coming to government was that, despite advice from agencies that a mobile data management solution for the CFS was critical to the delivery of this project, that was not included in the scope, it was not included in the budget and it was not included in the contract. So I have been working with the CFS to ensure that the failure of the contract and the delivery and funding of this by the former government does not compromise the CFS's ability to have this delivered.

I am very confident and pleased to report that I have worked with the CFS and an MDM solution will be found and the AVL project will be delivered, but this has significant delays as a result of matters that were well and truly under the remit of the former government. I would not suggest that these delays were not announced at the time because of political reasons, but I am now getting on with the job of ensuring that this is delivered, it is done within scope and the vendor is living up to their part of the contract, and that is delivering the project.

The other matter that was very concerning was the failure rate or the damage rate or otherwise of the first tranche of installations by the vendor. There was a failure rate I think of above 90 per cent in a two-week period and, as a result, there was an urgent review of the human resourcing provided by the vendor, and remedial action has now been insisted upon. Reports and advice I have received is that those installations have improved in quality, but that has been a process that should not have been contemplated and should not have been taking up the time of the administrative services agencies in what is effectively micromanaging the trade's installation of terminals.

Mr PEDERICK: I appreciate your answer, but at the end of the day the former government did start rolling this vital work out. Will it be completed by mid-2023, which is the new target date to finish it?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It will be completed in the 2022-23 financial year, yes. I note the premise of your question that the former government did start rolling it out. I absolutely acknowledge that. What the former government unfortunately oversaw were significant delays that were not communicated and that have required a significant amount of remedial action, which is ongoing.

Mr PEDERICK: I go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 73, targets, dot point 2. From where does SAFECOM take advice in completion of the ESO information technology tenancy migration, including cybersecurity improvements?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The advice is taken from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 74, targets 2022-23, dot point 1: can you describe the actions to be implemented, aligned to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework and Stronger Together: SA's Disaster Resilience Strategy 2019-24?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The national partnership agreement on disaster risk reduction is a joint commonwealth and state government agreement that provides the funding for the Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program, administered by the South Australian fire commission, SAFECOM. The NPA will deliver on the goals of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework. Since mid-2020, $3.5 million has been allocated through this NPA for the grants program, for 21 projects and initiatives to build resilience and reduce disaster risk.

Including grant recipient contributions, the total value of the project's initiatives is $9.28 million. Through this NPA and associated grants program, the government is contributing more than $1.2 million per annum—and this is indexed—of state funding over the next five years, with additional contributions by grant recipients of cash and/or in kind to match the Australian government funding of $1.6 million per annum. The total allocation of grant funding over the five-year agreement is $16.7 million, including commonwealth, state and applicant co-contributions.

As the member would know, this is a matter that was first instituted as a result of the 2015 agreement—I think it was a UN framework for disaster risk reduction from which the commonwealth subsequently developed their disaster risk framework. To date, $3.15 million has been allocated across the two rounds of the DRS grant stream in one round of the state strategic projects. Both of these streams are due to open in the first quarter of the 2022-23 financial year. A new innovation stream is under development, with the pilot due to be delivered in the first quarter of the 2022-23 financial year.

Mr PEDERICK: We might switch to the Country Fire Service: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 34, Program 1: Country Fire Service. I certainly wish to thank Chief Officer Mark Jones for his valuable service to the community of South Australia. In regard to the recruitment of a new chief officer, what methods will the minister use to attract applications locally, nationally and internationally?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I thank the member for his question. I will also take the opportunity to thank Chief Officer Mark Jones for his service to South Australia. I was saddened, when Mark and I met personally, to discuss his calling back to the UK due to family circumstances. I have spoken a little bit about those circumstances in parliament in my ministerial statement.

I would like to note for the record how I empathise entirely with Mark's decision. I also acknowledge the excessive strain the COVID separation has caused many families, whether it be across state borders, as the member for MacKillop and his community would know well, or across international borders. It has certainly amplified some of the considerations that people have when it comes to the prioritisation of family and family considerations.

As the member for Hammond noted in his question, it is important for the recruitment of a new chief officer to be local, Australia-wide, as well as international. As minister, I have committed to instituting a process, which I will run through now for the member, that prioritises the ability for us to attract the best candidate, a candidate that is the best fit for South Australia.

The Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, on my request, has initiated the recruitment process. The commissioner has advised me that she will facilitate the search for suitably credentialled candidates across all jurisdictions. An external recruitment agency, which will be named shortly—and as soon as I am possibly able to do that, member for Hammond, I will advise you—will be charged with undertaking the search for our new CFS chief officer.

The selection panel will have a number of participants. It will be chaired by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri. The commissioner has extensive experience in executive recruitment and I and this government greatly appreciate and value her contribution, as I know the former government did as well. There will also be a CFS volunteer representative on the panel, which I am very committed to and very pleased to have confirmed with the CFS Volunteers Association. There will be an experienced fire service leader from the jurisdiction and there will also be the Chief Executive of SAFECOM.

Mr PEDERICK: I will go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 33, dot point 4. Are cold burns being increased as a bushfire mitigation strategy?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Member for Hammond, I will take that on notice and provide a fulsome answer in respect of the schedule and also the rollout of those cold burns.

Mr PEDERICK: I will go to Budget Paper 3, page 111, emergency services, major projects and 'High and Bulk Capacity Fleet Renew'. What size trucks and how many are in this fleet renew, and where are they being posted?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thank you for the question, member for Hammond. As a result of reviewing the CFS operational fleet requirements based on risk and capability prescriptions, and in collaboration with CFS regional commanders, the following 63 new vehicles commenced manufacture during the 2021-22 financial year in preparation for deliveries to commence in late 2022:

There are nine quick attack vehicles. These nine quick attack vehicles will be placed at Cherryville, Laura, Lower Inman Valley, Morgan, Norton Summit, Ashton, Port Victoria, Sellicks, Strathalbyn and Waitpinga.

There are 10 type-14 tankers. These will be placed at Ashbourne, Bridgewater, Echunga, Greenock, Neales Flat, State Training Centre, Streaky Bay, Swan Reach, Upper Sturt—I see smiles across the chamber—and Waitpinga.

There are 10 type-24 rescue tankers. These will be going to Cowell, Eudunda, Meadows, Mount Pleasant, Orroroo, Padthaway, Parndana—a wonderful community in which I spent some time over the weekend—State Training Centre, Williamstown and Wudinna.

There are 16 type-34 tankers going to Angaston, Balaklava, Cadell, Coffin Bay, Eden Hills, Kapunda, Keith, Kimba, Littlehampton, McLaren Vale, Mil-Lel, Nairne, Owen, Port Broughton, Port Elliot and Tumby Bay.

There are 12 type-44 tankers at Aldinga Beach, Brinkworth, Dublin, Haines/MacGillivray, Hamley Bridge, Lucindale, Roseworthy, State Training Centre, Tailem Bend, Tintinara and Willalooka.

There are five bulk water carriers going to the Barossa, Caralue, Mid Murray, North Barossa and Victor Harbor.

There is one rescue vehicle going to Lobethal.

Mr PEDERICK: There is a broad range of vehicles there. Where are these vehicles being manufactured?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that the majority of the builds are at Fraser, well known to the member. The majority of the vehicles themselves are Isuzu. If there is an additional list that I can provide the member, I will. I asked very early on in my time as minister, across all agencies, what are we doing to support local business?

Obviously, Fraser is a great local business, which is with the procurement and contracts with local emergency services. We support local jobs and local industry, so there is certainly a focus. I would be happy to provide, even if it were not to be a question from the member, some degree of detail from the SES, which undertakes significant work with local businesses in their procurement.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Can I take the minister and the committee to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 34, under the table headed 'Annual programs' and the line 'Capital works'. Has land been acquired for a new Lenswood Forest Range CFS station? If it has, when was the land acquired and when did title and risk pass to the state or agencies?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: This takes me back to my Public Works days with the member. Can you repeat that last part of the question? I could not hear you.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: It is a twofold question: has land been acquired for a new Lenswood Forest Range CFS station? If it has, when was it acquired and when did title and risk pass to the state or state agencies?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thanks to the member for that question. Also, for my hearing, it is me, not you.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: I think it might actually be me.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can advise the land has been acquired in the member's electorate for the Lenswood Forest Range CFS station. Lot 2 of Coldstore Road, Lenswood, has been acquired. The best information I have is that it was acquired in April 2022 and that concepts are yet to be developed, although they are being developed. I should not say they are yet to be. The process has started. I think the architects are engaged. I am not sure if engineering is on board yet, but there are certainly plans afoot.

Understandable delays are being experienced right across the building sector, so before these projects even start we are anticipating, and I am advised, that across this and other projects there are lock-in delays. What I would advise, broadly speaking, hypothetically speaking, for a build of this general remit, is that the concept design would be anticipated to take six weeks, architect plans would be anticipated to be eight weeks and requests for tenders would be expected to take five weeks.

A further week would be required for the evaluation of those tenders and then the appointment of a contractor, so that would take it to, probably, somewhere towards the end of 2022 for consideration. I would not want to mislead the member and say that there will be a lock-in date for 2022; it may be early 2023. This is fully funded and, subject to working with the local volunteers up there, we look forward to getting this rolled out.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Thank you, minister. I appreciate that there are construction delays across the state but emphasise that those works are important and urgent for my community. Whilst I still have the call, can I take the minister and committee to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 34, under the table heading 'Annual programs' and the line 'Replacement of telecommunications equipment'. Would the minister please confirm the scope of this project and, in particular, whether any CFS telecommunications equipment will be replaced in the Adelaide Hills, in particular tower assets and related assets?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: There is a scoped project for the replacement of the SA Government Radio Network UHF mobile, fixed and portable radios and associated products to be purchased by the CFS to replace the existing fleet of SAGRN UHF fixed, mobile and portable radios. The following is sought within this procurement and is included in the current approved budget allocation.

I may need to take on notice the time lines for that procurement, but there is the supply and installation of the SAGRN UHF fixed radios at fixed locations and mobile radios in vehicles; there is the supply and installation of the UHF portable radios, batteries and battery chargers; and there is the ongoing support and maintenance of the SAGRN UHF mobiles and portables. The CFS also uses the SAGRN command and control comms, as well as radios for simplex communications, as a means of managing the load on the SAGRN during these peak levels of activity.

Due to the substantial number of terminals to be replaced and the fact that installation during the fire season is not practical, the rollout of the terminals is expected to occur over a three-year time frame, and that began in 2021. The scope excludes the tactical comms, which is VHF, and the long-range infrastructure independent communications, which is the UHF and CB radio for communicating with farm firefighting units. Options within this are also being sought for the inclusion of a number of other operational requirements.

I have already given you a rough rundown of the rollout schedule, but I can provide some additional details. The upgrade is for the planned rollout of CFS operational groups, rather than geographical areas; it has been planned to roll it out to groups rather than geographics to ensure that each group retains the interoperability they need within their brigades, all encompassing the group where this is being rolled out.

Onkaparinga has been scheduled for 16 September 2022 through 22 September 2022 and Heysen and region 1 headquarters are scheduled for 22 August 2022 through 7 September 2022. There is another degree of rollout schedule that I may be able to provide to the member on notice. There are quite a number of locations that I can provide, but I do not want to take up more time with that answer.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Thank you, Minister, that would be of great assistance and I would appreciate the location list for the replacement of those assets.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can confirm Mount Barker.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Very well. There are others.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is a long list.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Excellent. It was also, of course, a happy moment to reprise our PWC experience.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The good old days.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Yes.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to MFS, Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 51, investing expenditure summary. This is in regard to the general purpose pumpers that the former government ordered, just like the fleet renew with the CFS. Is the 2021-22 estimated result of $4,152,000 for general purpose pumpers for the MFS part of the allocated funds for the 12 new fire trucks?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: No, it is not, member for Hammond. The 12 new fire trucks is new funding. I am very pleased that you asked me about this as it gives me an opportunity to respond on another election commitment being delivered by this government, that is, the 12 new fire appliances, and also, as part of that commitment, four new staff engineers at the MFS engineering department, including, much to my pleasure, two apprentices.

We will build trades and trade capability at every opportunity we can within our government departments. I know it is not a matter that requires partisan support but getting our trades back into government and back into our economy where we can is very important to many people in this chamber. We are very pleased that our delivery of this commitment also involves those two apprentice positions.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 51: the budget for an aerial firefighting appliance is $2,800,000. Is this on budget and on time?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can confirm to the member that on both fronts and both questions it is both on budget and on time, which is somewhat music to my ears considering the significant delays we have seen across the supply chain and delivery of appliances right across the sector. Anyone who has tried to order a new car has been expecting to wait 12 or 18 months, so the fact that we have a $2 million fire appliance being delivered on time puts Toyota Kluger to shame. No offence to Toyota Kluger. I like what they are—

Mr PEDERICK: It is out there now; it is too late. Let's try another angle then. You are going well. Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 51, dot point 3, key agency outputs: what programs and practical efforts are made in reducing the number of preventable fires and emergencies in South Australia?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: That is a very good question from the member for Hammond and one thing that we want to see right across our sector is reducing the instances of fire and emergencies. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was able to speak publicly about the need to be fire vigilant throughout the year, not just in summer but as we move into our colder and winter months. I will ask the Chief Officer of the MFS, Michael Morgan, to provide a bit of operational detail to assist the member on that one.

Mr MORGAN: There are a number of initiatives that the minister has highlighted. We have an annual fire awareness program that we run with the CFS as well, highlighting the dangers that members of the community face within their own homes. As well as that, we have campaigns around smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, the risks associated with household goods within the home, but it is that community engagement that both fire services provide that highlights that awareness.

Mr PEDERICK: I go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 54, frontline services, dot point 4. How many stage 1 buildings have been found to have had aluminium composite panels and what rectification works are involved with these buildings?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I note that this has been a matter being contemplated and acted upon by emergency services organisations for a number of years now. I do recall a significant degree of parliamentary interest in this matter a number of years ago under the former government. This is an issue that continues to be of close interest to the MFS. The degree of combustibility of one of these panels, depending upon the type of polymer and the type of fuel present within its core, is very significant. The response here in South Australia has been commensurate with that.

For some specific details, all 30 building fire safety committees (BFSCs) have advised that the owners of identified buildings that contain aluminium composite panels of some description—so that is 30 building fire safety committees, this is limited to class 2, class 3 and class 9B buildings three storeys and above—are in the first stage of the inspection process. Inspections of all other buildings will start shortly and some of these councils around South Australia have already combined the inspection of all classes as they did not have a large number in their area, so that combination has certainly been advisable for the progress of this.

The Adelaide City Council has the largest number of buildings that are still to be inspected as part of the second stage of this inspection process. Specifically, the Adelaide BFSC has just recently been reconstituted under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act and will now start the inspections for all other classes of building that were not covered in the first stage of inspections.

Late in 2021, the MFS were notified by the Attorney-General's Department that due to machinery of government changes, the responsibility for the continuation of the SA building cladding audit transitioned from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to the now Building Policy and Programs unit in AGD.

The MFS will consider the findings of the audit outcomes and any associated impacts on MFS operational firefighting within the detailed buildings to minimise the risk to operational personnel and the broader community, and I will just perhaps suggest to the member for Hammond that if there is more specific detail that he is after on that, he direct questions to the AGD which is now the lead on this.

Mr PEDERICK: Just quickly then to finish this little section off: what is the difference between a stage 1 building and a stage 2 building in the aluminium composite panels program?

Mr MORGAN: Like I said, it is the type and class of building, so it ranges from a domestic dwelling through to an aged-care facility or high-rise facility or multiple tenancies. It depends on the class and type of the building as to the inspection.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 54, targets 2022-23 at dot point 2: in regard to the MFS Road Awareness Program, is there information on the fire risks involving electric vehicles?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Sorry, is that a question regarding does the road accident—

Mr PEDERICK: I am just asking, is there any specific information in the MFS Road Awareness Program around the fire risks involving electric vehicles or is there any other general information that you can give me on the fire risks, seeing as we have seen some of these cars burn for days? I am just interested in some information on whether we are, in this state, having a look at this.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Sure. Thanks for the question. I will ask the chief officer for the operational response to that, but I can say within the Road Awareness Program that that is focused upon driver behaviour, so it does not focus on the associated risks. It is an extraordinary program. I was at one only a couple of weeks ago, and if I can use unparliamentary language, sir, it was bloody hard-hitting, and it should be. We will get to road safety in just a moment, but it is a message that is important for students of that age, but for the electric vehicle operational risk I will ask Michael Morgan.

Mr MORGAN: Thank you, minister. Yes, the minister is correct. It is not in the Road Awareness Program, but certainly both fire services are always looking at emerging technologies, and certainly electric or battery-operated vehicles, and other types of vehicles. It is something that we are always reviewing, developing training packages, and then that information is passed on to the crews who will respond to those types of incidents.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 58, targets 2022-23, dot point 2: can you give an insight to the committee into the staff development framework, the technology involved and the community engagement strategy involved? This is in regard to the staff development framework.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: To the extent that I can, so as to not disclose any material within the SDF that is privileged or subject to copyright. Otherwise, I will provide that on notice for the member.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 58, targets 2022-23, dot point 4: in regard to the new firefighting training facility at Angle Park, will there be an opportunity for private sector firefighters to train there—for example, mining companies—and will a fee be charged?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will ask the chief officer to respond.

Mr MORGAN: Thank you, minister. Certainly, the structural firefighting facility will provide a state-of-the-art facility for our firefighters to train in. The focus currently is on recruit firefighters who have just completed or are in the process of doing their training. That training will then be provided to MFS staff both full-time and retained, and certainly I have had discussions with the chief of the CFS around CFS using the facility. The intention is that once all that training has been provided we will be exploring the potential opportunities for external training, for the facility, and it will be at a fee.

Mr PEDERICK: For the private sector?

Mr MORGAN: For the private sector.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 51, investing expenditure summary: can you give the committee some information about the structural firefighting training prop, and will it come in on its budget of $4,539,000 and be completed this month, if it has not been already?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am happy to advise the member that it has been completed and, if we can take it offline, I am happy to perhaps go with the member and take a look at the new—I think 'prop' is underdoing it a bit; it is a significant piece of infrastructure.

Mr PEDERICK: I think that is what it says in the budget papers. I am just using the words.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It does. We will have to fix that next year.

Mr PEDERICK: I get what it is. Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 54, frontline services, dot point 1: can the minister give the committee some insight into the People and Their Hoarding (PATH) program, and advise how big a problem is hoarding in the community?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will ask the chief officer to speak about the operational delivery of that project. On the early advice I have received, and from conversations I have had, and as no doubt the member knows well and truly himself as a local member, the matter of hoarding is a societal issue and it requires a whole degree of across-agency support.

As a local member I have constituents who have a lot of inquiries through my office, either from hoarders or families of hoarders or those who have been subject to SACAT rulings as a result of hoarding, or from neighbours of hoarders. Its primary concern here is the fire risk that poses, not only to the tenant but also to others who may find themselves in the danger zone. Perhaps the chief officer can provide how that rolls out operationally.

Mr MORGAN: As highlighted, the significant increase in fuel load presents not only a risk to the occupants but also to firefighters intervening. Access and egress is very challenging. We are developing a program where we can go into the education space, similar to what we are doing in the Road Awareness Program and in our junior firefighting intervention programs. Members are identified, and then we have staff from our Community Safety and Resilience Department who will engage, just highlighting the risks associated for the home owner or tenant, as well as identifying that risk it poses to anyone coming in if that building happens to be on fire.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. I might try to squeeze a couple out on SES, minister. Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 93, targets 2022-23, dot point 2: can you give us an overview of unit upgrades and maintenance as part of Project Renew?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I thank the member for his question. The total budget for that renew project is $250,000. It is largely focused on smaller scope works. If there is additional information—I think in response to the member for Kavel’s question before there was a long list—I am happy to provide it to the member.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 93, targets 2022-23, dot point 1: can you inform us of the scope of works for the new unit facilities being built at Noarlunga and Strathalbyn?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The Noarlunga unit will be situated on a 5,000 square metre land parcel that has been purchased specifically for the redevelopment of that Noarlunga SES unit. Plans and specifications for site works and new buildings have been prepared in consultation with the local volunteer members and detailed costing estimates are currently being prepared. It is anticipated that the Noarlunga project will be tendered in June 2022, and I am advised that that is on track and construction will commence in the 2022-23 financial year.

The construction of the SES facility at Strathalbyn has commenced with an expected completion date of August 2022. Again, with all of the significant construction delays, it is admirable that we are within frame on that. For the member's interest, the proceeds from the currently owned site for the Strathalbyn unit will offset the purchase of the new land in the 2022-23 financial year.

Mr PEDERICK: Just for the interest of the committee, the project was started under the former government and in my electorate, so I am very pleased with that. I will go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 93, highlights 2021-22, dot point 5. Has the New Pathways: Volunteering Recruitment and Retention program been fully implemented?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will ask the Chief Officer of the SES to provide some details on how it has been rolling out.

Mr MORGAN: The New Pathways program is well progressed. Since its implementation, we have brought on a number of new measures focused on the attraction and selection and onboarding of volunteers. This has seen an increase in volunteer numbers over the last 12 months. Furthermore, I can report good progress on our Youth Development Pathways program, and we are in the current throes of finalising some high-level discussions with Scouts SA in relation to a future partnership agreement.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 90, Workforce summary: FTEs for 2020-21 actual were 106, and the estimated result for 2021-22 is 104.8. I note the budget for 2022-23 is only for 72.8 full-time equivalents. Will any support and programs be lost?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: This reduction is due to the cessation of the SES-SAPOL support unit that I referred to earlier. That contract ceases on 30 June. I am advised that that number, since the emergency management declaration, has ceased and those numbers have been declining, by attrition or otherwise, largely due to the management of the COVID pandemic transitioning to SA Health. That is the matter at hand about which the member asks.

Mr PEDERICK: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 93, targets 2022-23, dot point 3: can you inform us of the progress in regard to land acquisitions on the Copper Coast and at Port Augusta and Aldinga Beach? Does the purchase price of the acquisitions of this land come from the internal SES budget or does it come from Treasury externally?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can update the member on that. The locations of the current SES units are largely the result of historic initiatives. As the member knows, they are a combination of commonwealth sites or otherwise, council sites. The Port Augusta SES unit is currently operating on council land, and the Aldinga site is also in a situation that needs upgrading.

If I go one by one, the cost of the land acquisition for Aldinga is $0.6 million, and that has been included in the 2022-23 financial year capital program. The Port Augusta SES site is ongoing. A number of potential government sites have been considered over time; however, none were considered appropriate. Consideration was given to the Aldinga site. The community in that area is not well serviced by the current emergency response capability. Consideration is being given to rezoning a large portion of government land at Aldinga to support light and medium-density dwellings and community infrastructure. The SES is progressing with the sale, and the settlement is expected in the 2022-23 financial year.

Finally, the Copper Coast towns of Wallaroo, Kadina and Moonta have experienced strong population growth, and there is a very compelling case. I know the member for Narungga has been in contact with me and is certainly keen on progressing that matter. The Bute SES unit continues to struggle, unfortunately, with volunteer numbers. It is a small town that is getting smaller and smaller, but it does serve a large geographic area and has averaged 87 callouts over the last year. The time line for the Copper Coast consideration will also be achieved in the financial year 2022-23.

The CHAIR: Thank you. The allotted time is up, so I declare the examination of the portfolios of SAFECOM, Country Fire Service, SA Metropolitan Fire Service and State Emergency Service and the estimate of payments for the South Australian Country Fire Service, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service and the South Australian State Emergency Service completed. I would like to thank all the staff who made a contribution today. I know there is a lot of work that goes on in the background. On behalf of all of us, this is a note of our appreciation for the work that both the paid staff and the thousands of volunteers do to look after us all in this state. Thank you.