ECONOMIC AND FINANCE COMMITTEE: EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY 2013-14

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (11:03): On behalf of the Presiding Member, the Hon. Lyn Breuer, I move:

That the 79^th report of the committee, entitled Emergency Services Levy 2013-14, be noted.

The Economic and Finance Committee has an annual statutory duty to examine the minister's determination in relation to the Emergency Services Levy. Pursuant to section 10(5a) of the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998, the committee has 21 days in which to inquiry into, consider and report on the minister's statement after it is referred to the committee.

This year was no exception, with the committee receiving the minister's statement on 24 May. As required by the act, the minister's statement included the determinations that the minister proposes to make in relation to the Emergency Services Levy for the 2013-14 financial year. Section 10(4) of the act requires these determinations to be made in respect of:

the amount that, in the minister's opinion, needs to be raised by means of the levy to fund emergency services;

the amounts to be expended for various kinds of emergency services; and

as far as practicable, the extent to which the various parts of the state will benefit from the application of that amount.

On 30 May, the committee heard from representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, SAFECOM, the Metropolitan Fire Service, the Country Fire Service and the State Emergency Service. The witnesses provided the committee with details of the proposed levy for the 2013-14 year. The committee notes that the total expenditure on emergency services for 2013-14 is projected to be $247.3 million. There will be no increase in levy rates either for owners of fixed property or for owners of motor vehicles and vessels in 2013-14.

The committee notes total expenditure for 2012-13 is expected to be broadly in line with the original budget estimate. The committee also notes that balances in the Community Emergency Services Fund are expected to reach $0.7 million by 30 June 2013. The committee notes that the 2013-14 target expenditure of $247.3 million on emergency services is made up of the following components:

the emergency services levy, inclusive of remissions, will fund $244.4 million; private owners of the property are expected to contribute $127.6 million with the balance of $116.7 million being met by government; and

interest rate earnings and revenue from the sale of certificates will fund an estimated $2.9 million.

The committee also notes that the 2013-14 target expenditure of $247.3 million is $13.3 million higher than the 2012-13 estimated outcome. The committee was told that this is mainly due to the increased cost of MFS wages arising from the 2008 enterprise bargaining agreement and the provision of new accommodation for Western Adelaide SES.

The committee has fulfilled its obligations under the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998. I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Presiding Member, to thank members of the Economic and Finance Committee and the departmental representatives who assisted the committee in reporting on the minister's determination for the 2013-14 emergency services levy. Therefore, pursuant to section 6 of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Economic and Finance Committee recommends to parliament that it notes this report.

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (11:07): I certainly do not wish to challenge any of the comments made by the member for Torrens, and I can certainly certify the correctness of the information that the member gave about the hearing that occurred last week. As someone who has sat on the Economic and Finance Committee a bit over the last seven-odd years, it has been my great pleasure to be involved quite a few times.

I am truly amazed about the number of people who attend the meetings. I respect the fact that that is on the basis that to any question asked an answer should be available from someone in the room. However, it sometimes appears as though there are a lot of people present and I question why they are all there. Unfortunately, the member for Giles, as presiding officer, was an apology, along with two other members who, I believe, were part of a natural resource management trip on Eyre Peninsula. The member for Flinders and the member for Torrens was—

Mrs Geraghty: I am a member of the committee but, unfortunately, I had another commitment.

Mr GRIFFITHS: Yes. The member for Torrens is a member of the NRM Committee but was there. The member for Colton acted as chairperson and did an excellent job, may I say. He was very fair in allowing questions to be asked by both sides. From the opposition's perspective, the member for Davenport and I asked a wide range questions, and we were given every opportunity to obtain the information we sought. Some quite interesting details come through when there is an opportunity for the Public Service to be there to provide answers.

I found some issues, especially about valuation trends in recent times and the projection for the next financial year, to be rather interesting. However, it is obvious to me that, while there was a lot of concern initially about the emergency services levy, and whilst some may still have that concern, it has created a pool of funds supported by private property owners and by the government that allows our very important emergency services facilities to be well serviced staff-wise and equipment-wise and for upgrades to occur. I respect the fact that the fund of $247 million this 2013-14 financial year will be a wonderful opportunity to continue to ensure that our emergency services are well serviced.

As a member of the committee who has a deep appreciation from a regional perspective, I asked questions about CFS and its forward plans, and Mr Nettleton was able to provide me with some answers about that, but I look forward to the fund working well and the resources being available. I have had concerns in previous years about a lack of dollars available in the last three months of a financial year for some volunteer Sea Rescue squadrons, but I hope that has been improved and that resources are available for all our emergency services to ensure they operate and are able to be trained appropriately, because that will be a key issue, to ensure the skills they need and the new volunteers they require in future years will have the training to continue to provide great service to South Australians.

The report is a very balanced one and reflects the discussions that took place last week, and I hope that when the bills come out people respect the fact that they are paying for a service that they hope they do not require but, because they do pay it, it will be available if they do need it in a desperate situation.

Motion carried.