Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Beulah Park Fire Station BEULAH PARK FIRE STATION The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council BEULAH PARK FIRE STATION The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about the Beulah Park Fire Station. Leave granted. The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council The Hon. S.G. WADE: In answer to a question on 12 February 2008, the minister promised that when the Glynde station closes (which is scheduled for March 2009) the risk profile in the area will be analysed and an appropriate allocation of staff will be made to stations in the area. Last Friday, 28 March, the union announced an escalation of its public education campaign, including yet another union rally against this government, this time tomorrow outside the empty, unfunded Beulah Park Fire Station. By Monday 31 March 2008, the union had been advised that a fire crew would be funded for the Beulah Park Fire Station in the upcoming budget. I ask the minister: 1.	What changes have occurred in the risk profile in the past six weeks that have changed the minister's mind on the need for an additional crew, and the timing of that decision? 2.	Do the changes to the risk profile involve fire risks to be dealt with by the fire service, or political risks being dealt with by this government? The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:20): As usual, those opposite get up to congratulate this government on the manner in which it has resourced the state's emergency services—in particular, the Metropolitan Fire Service. As I have said a number of occasions in this place, it has been well over $20 million in the operational budget since we came to government as well as 194 recruits, who we train as quickly as we possibly can—in fact, there is a recruit training course being conducted right now. I have said all along that the government would never put the community at risk and would ensure community safety. Again, this government is increasing coverage in the north-eastern suburbs with a new station at Paradise and a new station at Beulah Park to replace the Glynde station. However—and I have put this on record before—until Paradise comes on line early in 2009 this government is committed to keeping open the Glynde station, so the MFS will temporarily relocate crews to ensure appropriate coverage for the area. I was becoming increasingly concerned about the potential for unnecessary—and, I repeat, unnecessary—public alarm because of the union's campaign, a so-called 'education' campaign. I met with union representatives last Thursday and put to them that I certainly did not appreciate the fact that they had an education campaign that was about nothing, because we have increased resources and funding to the MFS after that lot over there, the former Liberal government, absolutely gutted them for eight years. I am pleased that the honourable member has heard that I met with the union leadership yesterday afternoon, and I am also pleased to say that cabinet gave me leave to take the unusual step of advising the union that funding would be made available for additional crew in the upcoming budget. I have said on many occasions, both in this chamber and in the media, that it was a temporary measure. It was always the intention of this government to increase staffing in the north-eastern suburbs—obviously you would have to when the new station at Paradise comes on line—and I have always publicly said that until the new station came on line there would clearly have to be temporary relocations. So, I repeat that there will not be a decrease in crewing numbers; it is just a relocation (I have to keep repeating those words) on a temporary basis (which I also have to keep repeating) until a new, additional crew is funded in July 2008 and then another new station comes on line in 2009. It is clearly the responsible thing to do: if one station is to be decommissioned to move the crew to another place, as that station cannot be decommissioned until a new station is built in the same area. As I have said, ahead of time and prior to the budget I told the union that the government would fund an extra 22 staff and that that funding will be made available to the MFS in the next financial year. Clearly, I leave the allocation of resources and the placement of crews to my chief officer, and I am certain that staffing will be carefully monitored—as I have always said. I am advised that the UFU and MFS management met this morning to discuss the resources and staffing issues (as one would expect them to), and my advice is that the UFU is confident that the current plan to resource the north-eastern area does not pose any risk to the community. Again, this government is committed to rebuilding the fire service and putting back what the opposition savagely cut in the eight years it was in government. We have provided funding for an additional 194 new recruits—that is, 194 more than the previous government—and we have increased the budget (it is on the record) from $74.5 million in 2002 to over $97.9 million in the 2007-08 budget. So, we have done nothing other than increase resourcing to the Metropolitan Fire Service—and, indeed, to all the emergency services in this state. Again, I know that the opposition congratulates us.