Country Fire Service

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. What is the status of the aerial fire bombing fleet available to the Country Fire Service this summer?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:04): I would like to thank the honourable member for his question and also his constant advocacy for the CFS and other emergency services workers in his electorate.

As we approach summer, our emergency services agencies are busy again preparing for what is shaping up to be another very dangerous period, unfortunately. The South Australian Country Fire Service has recently identified additional areas of the state that have the potential to experience above normal fire conditions in the coming months, which has prompted a revision of the South Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook. This bushfire outlook is conducted by the CFS in partnership with the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Earlier today, the CFS and the Bureau of Meteorology held a press conference advising of the revision, noting that much of the state is currently experiencing a level of bushfire threat normally only experienced in February of the season. Members of parliament, the media and the general public, particularly those in high fire-risk areas have a significant interest in knowing what aerial assets are available to support our firefighters on the ground, particularly given the revised conditions.

The South Australian Country Fire Service firefighting aircraft are procured through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre. The firefighting centre was established by the states and territories to provide an internationally competitive tendering process and to facilitate a resource management agreement for the sharing of aircraft between states. The CFS budget for aerial firefighting is $7.6 million for 2014-15, which includes $1.8 million funded from the Australian government through the firefighting centre.

The CFS fleet will consist of 17 aircraft, including 10 fixed-wing bombers, one high-volume helicopter, four fixed-wing observation aircraft and two rotary-wing observation aircraft. The CFS has brought forward—

The SPEAKER: Point of order, the member for Schubert.

Mr KNOLL: The information the minister refers to is on the cfs.sa.gov.au website.

The SPEAKER: It's on what? I didn't catch that.

Mr KNOLL: On the CFS website.

The SPEAKER: Can the minister say whether this is so?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Mr Speaker, today's media release issued by the CFS is there, so part of it would be there, but I have other additional information to convey.

The SPEAKER: Can we have different information?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I'm not aware what he's got in front of him.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: No. The CFS has brought forward the aircraft exclusive use periods for the Mount Lofty Ranges and Lower Eyre Peninsula and is closely monitoring other districts to determine when to commence remaining aircraft contracts. As such, 10 aircraft, comprising six bombers and four observation aircraft, have also come into service. They are based at the Woodside air base and Port Lincoln, but are also available to operate across the state. Four additional aircraft will also be available in Mount Gambier from next week.

The staggered start dates ensure maximum aircraft availability in the critical fire danger months of January and February. As recently as Friday 7 November, the CFS called on six additional aircraft to address the significant fire weather conditions faced across the state on that day. Additional aircraft can also be sourced from other states and territories through the national resource management agreement if required. The CFS can also utilise aircraft from the State Rescue Helicopter Service for observation and coordination roles.

The Victorian government has decided to contract two higher-capacity air tankers commencing mid-December. These large air tankers are used extensively in North America, particularly in tall forest regions. In line with the national resource management agreement and depending on Victoria's willingness to release them, South Australia may also be able to access these resources at times over the coming fire danger season. Notwithstanding these capabilities, it is important to note that, while aircraft are a valuable firefighting resource, they do not replace firefighters on the ground. Firefighting aircraft cannot be used at night or operate in low visibility environments, such as thick smoke.

Today I have spoken about the CFS. However, the SES is also busy preparing for extreme weather ahead. I remind the house of the outstanding performance of the SES earlier this year when it responded to several severe extreme weather events, including heatwaves. The MFS also provides significant support to the CFS and SES during the bushfire and extreme events, in addition to their own urban responsibilities. Rest assured, while we cannot control the climate, our emergency services agencies are prepared and ready.