Ministerial Statement

Country Fire Service Chief Officer

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I rise to advise the house that the Chief Officer of the CFS, Mr Mark Jones, has advised me that due to family circumstances he is unable to extend his term when his contract ends in September this year. Recently, I met with the chief officer, and he advised me that the tyranny of distance had led to him and his wife to determining they should return to their home in Britain.

Like many internationals who came to work in Australia in South Australia before the COVID-19 virus was heard of, their expectations of returning home regularly to see their family and friends were dashed as borders closed and safety restrictions were imposed worldwide. Instead of an exciting experience in another country, many people suffered long-term isolation from those closest to them and the inability to genuinely share in the new experiences they were set to enjoy together.

Mark Jones was appointed Chief Officer of the CFS in 2019 before overseeing the response to the significant fire season faced by South Australia that year. As the house well knows, that year the first serious fires were at Cudlee Creek followed by the devastation on Kangaroo Island.

The chief officer has advised me that he has greatly enjoyed his time in South Australia, and we as a government and, I am sure, the entire community and this house thank him for his tireless efforts on behalf of our state. I wish him well in his future endeavours, and I understand opportunities are already beckoning in his home in England. Mark Jones will be a loss for South Australia, but I understand the call of family that sees his return to the United Kingdom.

I advise the house that I have initiated a recruitment process to replace the chief officer to be led by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. The commissioner has advised me an international search should be undertaken but, of course, all suitably credentialled local and national applicants should apply.