Firefighter Recruitment

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister update my community as to the current number of full-time and also retained firefighters currently employed at the Port Pirie Metropolitan Fire Service? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain further.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I am led to believe that the majority of the full-time firefighters at the Port Pirie station are from out of town and, in the latest recruitment, many were from interstate. Local part-time or retained firefighters are missing out on the opportunity of full-time employment due to this.

The Hon. R.K. PEARCE (King—Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:02): I thank the member for his question. I would also like to place on record again my appreciation for the incredible work of the local MFS firefighters who helped out in the township over the weekend. They worked around the clock to help keep the community safe and they also did an absolutely incredible job at the command centre as well, so their efforts are truly commendable. The MFS station has been in Port Pirie for as long as I can remember; it has been in the heart of our township. The firefighters have responded to countless calls for help for a variety of different needs in the community and they play such an important role.

In response to the member's particular question, I can advise the house that there are currently 20 full-time firefighters who are employed at the Port Pirie site. Six of these firefighters reside in Port Pirie and another seven reside in other regional locations, by their choice. This means that the majority of full-time firefighters at Port Pirie are regionally based and understand intrinsically the needs of the regional community.

For the benefit of members in this house, I can clarify that retained staff are employed by the MFS to do firefighting on a part-time, on-call basis. That allows them to register their own availability. This means that retained firefighters will often have alternative primary employment but we are exceptionally grateful to have them to step in as the need presents. With regard to retained firefighters, I can advise that the MFS is currently undertaking recruitment in Port Pirie, with 13 retained firefighters currently employed at the Port Pirie site. Further, all retained firefighter staff live within ten minutes of the Port Pirie station, which is quite impressive. I was in Telowie growing up, and that was 15 minutes, so it's incredibly close to the township.

All regional staff have the opportunity to apply to become full-time firefighters via the full-time recruitment campaign, and I would strongly encourage any of these staff with an interest to consider putting up their hand. Indeed, the MFS actively undertakes recruitment activities for both retained and full-time staff and recruitment is open to all Australian citizens. The MFS periodically reviews recruitment strategies and they regularly recruit from retained staff to full-time staff across South Australia. This option will continue to be promoted in all future recruitment processes.

Again, I thank the member for his question. If anyone within the community is interested in taking up this really important role of servicing the community they live in, I strongly encourage all to apply, to put up their hand. We are so grateful for all the important work that they do.