Country Fire Service

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister update the house on the status of the government's CFS Project Renew and how it is providing better services to the community?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:34): I thank the member for Finniss for that question and note that he has a focus on better services. Better services: that is a commitment we took to the election. The Marshall Liberal government is here to deliver better services.

Mr Malinauskas: How's that going?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It's going far better than you ever delivered, my friend—far better than you ever did.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The Premier has just gone through the mess that we were left in. Across every portfolio along the front bench here—

Mr Odenwalder interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elizabeth is called to order and warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —we are all experiencing it, and we are here to deliver better services. Say it with me: better services—that is what we're here to do. That's why I'm very proud that one of the first commitments we made was Project Renew, $5 million into the CFS to upgrade facilities for our emergency services, for our CFS operators. They don't like it on that side because they left them in a state of disrepair.

Across the state, wherever we go to the CFS centres, they are in a state of disrepair. We said, 'Let's put money into improving these centres.' This is where volunteers go to give better services to our state. They don’t want to hear about it on that side of the house, but over here we care about our volunteers and we want to deliver better services. I'm proud to say that we have delivered kitchen upgrades and station extensions.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We have removed asbestos and put in new blinds, insulation, generators and roofing. We have done the painting. Can I give you one example, Mr Speaker? I was in the electorate of Newland just last week with a very good member. After 12 years of neglect from the Labor side of government, they wanted improved facilities. I tell you what: they are through the roof.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: We rocked up at the Tea Tree Gully CFS. The member for Newland was treated like a rock star. They loved having him there. They saved him a park out front and welcomed him in. I tell you what: they thought he was an absolutely outstanding member. He advocated so hard to improve their facilities because they are a hardworking CFS station. He was one of the first to get Project Renew to deliver nearly $10,000 for a new floor. The floor in this place was in disrepair. Now they have fixed it up and put carpets throughout their control rooms. It was a beautiful floor, wasn't it? They kept the monogram of the CFS on the floor.

It was absolutely outstanding, but he didn't stop there. He is now helping them push for a new shed that they need to expand their facilities, and $30,000 is coming their way for a new shed. The member for Newland is working tirelessly to get better services in his area. What I can say about this CFS station as well and the wonderful volunteers they have there—and they are outstanding people—is that they actually have a waiting list of volunteers.

That's why we want to make sure that people who come along and join this CFS station have the facilities they need. We want to make sure that they can help deliver for our community as they do so well. Our volunteers do such a marvellous job. We want to make sure that they have the facilities they need. I commend the member for Newland and the work he has done in his community. There are a number of others. We will keep delivering for our volunteers because our volunteers do such an outstanding job for our community. We want to make sure that they have the resources they need.

It has been a pleasure over the past few months to go out and visit these CFS stations, shake hands with the people there, thank them for the great work they do and commend them for what they give back to our state of South Australia. They know and we know that we will work with them and keep working with them, giving them the facilities they need so that they can keep providing better services for South Australia. We are very bullish about that on this side of the house. We will keep working hard every day. It is what we are about on this side of the house. We will make sure that we keep delivering better services and better results for South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I am very proud to do that in my emergency services sector, and I know that everyone across this side of the house will keep delivering for South Australia, in particular better services.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Kaurna, I must intervene. I warn for a first time the member for Reynell and the member for Elizabeth. I call to order and warn for a first time the member for Waite. The member for Mawson is warned for a second time, and the member for Hurtle Vale is also called to order and warned a first time. The member for Kaurna.