Emergency Services

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:07): Third supplementary, sir. Will CFS volunteer training be carried out by paid MFS trainers, and will all CFS volunteers have access to the same level of training as the MFS paid firefighters?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:07): I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, and hopefully he has read the discussion paper that I have put out, issues like that have to be worked through, but my view would be that both volunteers and paid workers would be in a capacity to deliver training. What I have heard very clearly from the CFS Volunteers Association, with whom I have had numerous meetings, is that they do not want the role of the CFS volunteer diminished, and I can give that undertaking.