EMERGENCY SERVICES VOLUNTEERS

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Is the minister able to provide any information about the progress of an important project within the emergency services sector where a number of parties are working towards a volunteer charter?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for his important question, and I am pleased that honourable members opposite read my media releases. On the afternoon of Tuesday 17 June, I was delighted to be joined at the signing of volunteer charters by the Premier, the Hon. Mike Rann MP, and my colleague the Minister for Volunteers, the Hon. Jennifer Rankine MP; the chief officers of the Country Fire Service and State Emergency Service; the President of the Country Fire Service Volunteers' Association, Mr Ken Schultz; the Chairperson of the State Emergency Service Volunteers' Association, Mr Warren Hicks; and members of the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission Advisory Board.

It has taken two years to develop the volunteer charters, and this is because these documents actually mean something—a great deal of passion, enthusiasm and dedication has gone into the their drafting. The charters represent another step in what is a continuing process to recognise and celebrate our emergency services volunteers. They reiterate the government's commitment to consulting and considering the views, needs and interests of South Australia's emergency services volunteers.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I am glad I am being shadowed; at least he is on the ball.

The Hon. G.E. Gago: Very inspirational, really.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: He is very inspirational. Our charter builds on South Australia's protection for volunteers, which is provided under the Volunteers Protection Act 2001 and the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: It is always regrettable that those opposite simply are not interested when we talk about our volunteers. It is just very regrettable.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Importantly, our state signed the Advancing the Community Together partnership agreement in 2003, which developed a whole-of-government approach to supporting volunteering in South Australia. The charters show a commitment on the part of all parties concerned to work in partnership with each other in the best interests of our emergency services volunteers. They provide a framework for an even closer working relationship among the volunteers, CFS, SES, the community and government.

One of the key principles of these charters is the recognition of the value of emergency services volunteers. Emergency services volunteers are an integral part of our state's emergency response capacity. They are committed and passionate about safety within their communities. Their contribution is invaluable. Importantly, they add to the social capital of their communities and contribute to building strong and resilient communities. They are an inspiration to others within a community when disaster strikes.

These charters will now hang in all the CFS brigades and SES units right around the state. They will also hang in our government offices and meeting rooms and will be a constant reminder to us of the partnership between volunteers and the community. Again, I thank the volunteer associations, the members of the SAFECOM advisory board and Volunteering SA for their assistance in bringing this important project to fruition.