House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Country Fire Service COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE Dr McFETRIDGE House of Assembly Morphett COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:35): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. How many CFS brigades are unable to provide personal protective equipment to CFS volunteers? The opposition has been sent an email from a rural CFS brigade captain that states: ...because of the lack of commitment by the CFS to supply the appropriate personal protective equipment, the feeling with new members is that they feel they are not wanted and left out when they are needed. We are about to lose more members. Somebody should listen and take urgent action. The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly Wright Minister for Police Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Road Safety Minister for Multicultural Affairs COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE 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) (15:35): I thank the member for Morphett for his question. Can I say from the outset that no-one in the CFS is taken for granted, nor are they unwanted. They provide an enormously important and valuable service to our community and we have in excess of something like 14,000 volunteers here in South Australia. In relation to equipment and/or uniforms, my understanding is that there was some delay with a particular contract. I understand those problems have been fixed. Uniforms are issued through the local region and decisions are made sometimes that perhaps a new volunteer does not necessarily get new uniforms immediately; they wait and see that they have some ongoing commitment to the service. If the member for Morphett has evidence of people not being equipped to do the job they need to do, I would be happy for him to give it to me. Dr McFetridge House of Assembly Dr McFetridge: I had to wait months for my boots. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I am sorry, Duncan, but I reckon you've got enough money to buy your own boots. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order!