COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:37): My question is again to the Minister for Emergency Services. Will the minister ensure CFS volunteers that SACAD, the call and dispatch computer system, is fully functional and not putting lives and properties at risk because of malfunctions? Last month a meeting of senior CFS officers produced a report detailing 18 serious issues with the SACAD system, including CFS volunteers on the way to a fire having to phone 000 to get further assistance, the wrong type of fire truck being sent to an incident, the wrong call signs being used for fire trucks responding to incidents and a lack of support staff for SACAD.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:38): I thank the member for Morphett for his question. SACAD is something like a $33 million investment to replace some very outdated computer systems and a very degraded communication system, and those old systems were at high risk of collapse. It is a massive change. There have been some teething problems, but we have all agencies working to fix any identified issues. I have been assured by the emergency services that in no way has public safety been compromised.