Emergency Services Equipment

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister inform the house of how the Marshall government is equipping and supporting our front-line emergency services workers in the MFS and the SES?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:46): I thank the member for the question and note his interest in our emergency services and the great work that they do. It was with great pleasure that recently I joined the Premier; the SAFECOM chief executive, Dom Lane; the MFS chief officer, Michael Morgan; and the chief of the SES, Mr Chris Beattie to announce some of our budget commitments from the most recent budget, where we of course have supported the Metropolitan Fire Service, the SES and continued our support to the CFS as well.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: What we know is that our MFS firefighters will, into the future, have some of the best kit, the most technologically advanced kit that the MFS have ever seen. We have put in $4.3 million over four years to purchase 1,100 state-of-the-art helmets and 500 new breathing apparatus units. I was staggered to learn that the MFS helmets were a 20-year-old design. That is what they were carrying out. They were going out there doing incredibly dangerous work and the designs of the helmets are some 20 years old. Now they will have the latest high-tech protective equipment and that is absolutely fantastic.

Having these helmets, too, will give them advances in options into the future. They now carry around on their helmets radio gear that is actually attached to their collars. They will be able to, in the future, look at options of having earpieces through the helmets. This is wonderful new technology. Along with that are four new turnkey trucks: $3.15 million worth of investment is there for four new turnkey trucks as part of the MFS capital works, so that is very exciting.

The SES also received a big boost in the state budget, with $1 million going towards revitalising their facilities and upgrading their vital equipment as well. That takes their yearly capital funding program to $4.5 million over the next few years, which is great to allow that renewal of our SES services across our state. It is a great way to thank our volunteers. They do an absolutely outstanding job out in our community. Whatever time of day or whatever time of night, rain or hail or sunshine, they are out there supporting our local communities. Increasing the facilities and equipment around where they do their volunteering—their work is so greatly appreciated—is one way to thank them for that.

This of course comes on the back of a $670,000 commitment in last year's budget for the Humanihuts, another great capability of the SES. The Humanihuts are a 128-person accommodation, with shower facilities, that provides shelter and meets the SES operational requirements during an emergency. They can be set up anywhere they are needed around the state to provide accommodation for people who are perhaps working on fires or working on any disaster areas, with air conditioning and all that they need. The Humanihuts are, again, another great commitment to follow through, with $670,000 for that.

With the CFS as well, we know how successful Project Renew has been. The $5 million project has delivered 129 projects throughout South Australia, so that is fantastic. Whether it be removing old asbestos from some of these buildings, it really is wonderful. When we look back over the 2018-19 fire danger season, more than 500,000 hours are from CFS volunteers who have donated into our community to help their communities at a time of need. That is a phenomenal figure, 500,000 hours, so we thank each and every one of those volunteers who did that fantastic work.

It is a pleasure to be part of the Marshall Liberal government that is keen and focused on building our state—not only building it from an infrastructure point of view and a security point of view but also from an emergency services point of view. We thank all the volunteers for the great work they do and we look forward to supporting them into the future.