Country Fire Service

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Police—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr ELLIS: —Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister update the house on the Marshall government's commitment to expanding the CFS aerial capability ahead of this year's fire danger season?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for his question. As a regional member, I note that the member for Narungga is very, very interested in the Country Fire Service, all that their volunteers do and the resources that they have. Like many members in this house, he knows that CFS volunteers are critical over the summer months. Many give back time and time again and our regions would not be the same without them, that is for sure.

I am pleased to have the chance to confirm our commitment to the Country Fire Service ahead of the fire danger season, which is on our doorstep. The member for Narungga, who does an outstanding job, will be pleased, as will all the members on this side of the chamber and I hope the other side as well, to hear that, on top of the funding we are investing in the CFS stations, which I talked about last week, the Marshall government is providing over $9 million in additional funding for the CFS over the next four years for an increased aerial firefighting capability. That funding will be spent on nine additional aircraft available to the CFS, boosting its fleet from 17 to 26 during this fire danger season, which I know is greatly appreciated.

In fact, I was at Aerotech, the company based at Parafield Airport that is supplying a number of these aircraft, a couple of weekends ago where I met with Sam McCabe, the Managing Director and chief pilot, who does an outstanding job. He had some of the aircraft on the runway that we got to have a look at. They look outstanding. They are first class. They have actually just improved the livery. In the past, we would have seen a lot of yellow aircraft. There will be red aircraft involved in the fleet, as they are changing over the colour. They look outstanding and have that extra capability, which I know everyone on this side is very appreciative of. I hope they are appreciative on the other side as well because it is a great announcement announced in the recent budget handed down by the Liberal government.

I know those on the other side might have talked about it. This side of the house is delivering. The Marshall government recognises the importance of providing the CFS with the equipment that they require, enabling them to respond whenever an emergency comes their way. This investment comes at a critical time, ahead of what is expected to be a challenging fire danger season. We know they all are and we touch wood and hope that this one will be a very safe season, of course.

I am pleased to inform the house that the extra government funding will also create a new aircraft base at Hoyleton in the Mid North and establish a fourth base for the CFS. I know the member for Frome will be very happy with this. I know he cares about this side of the government investing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Reynell! Member for Elizabeth!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —in his region. Again, they talk about it on that side. The member for Frome knows that we are delivering on this side. We are delivering for the regions. Residents in the member for Frome's electorate will be pleased to hear that the government is investing in his community, increasing the CFS capabilities, particularly given the significant bushfires experienced in previous years. Of course, this includes the devastating Pinery bushfires in 2015.

The new Mid North Primary Response Zone will see two firebombers, a tactical coordination helicopter and an intelligence helicopter dispatched wherever a fire is reported during the exclusive-use period. This will be the fourth primary response zone adding to those already established in the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Lower Eyre Peninsula and the Lower South-East. So now we have four zones keeping our state even safer.

The increase in the number of firefighting aircraft will provide greater support to ground-based CFS firefighters across South Australia, and we wish all them all a very, very safe summer ahead and hope and know that this increased fire capability delivered by this side of the house in the recent budget will be beneficial to all South Australians.

The SPEAKER: The 20^th question for the opposition. The member for Kaurna.