Metropolitan Fire Service

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question regarding the Metropolitan Fire Service.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: The opposition has sighted, through a freedom of information request, a business case developed by the full-time staff of the Mount Gambier MFS station which has been sent up the MFS chain of command that calls to implement a single appliance, 24-hour full-time staffing model for Mount Gambier. The business case outlines several key benefits to the local community, including:

a 150 per cent increase in full-time coverage, ensuring faster response times to emergencies;

a projected increase in the percentage of incidents attended with 11 minutes from 76 per cent to 95 per cent, aligning Mount Gambier with similar regional centres like Port Pirie;

that a full-time staffed 24/7 station would save seven minutes per call on average to respond (as the minister would be aware, a house fire can cause complete destruction of the area of one room every four minutes);

the enhanced ability to support other emergency services, including the CFS and SAAS;

reduced property damage and risk to life through quicker fire suppression and emergency response; and

cost savings through a more efficient staffing model, with the total wage cost for full-time staffing estimated at approximately $250,000 per year.

My questions to the minister are

1. Has the minister been provided with a copy of, and has she read, the business case?

2. Has the minister spoken with the full-time MFS staff at Mount Gambier regarding the need for a full-time 24/7 MFS station?

3. Will the minister support the calls from the opposition and the Independent member for Mount Gambier, Troy Bell, to fund and implement a full-time staffed 24/7 MFS station in Mount Gambier?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:53): Apologies; I just want to seek clarification at the beginning. When the honourable member said that a freedom of information request was put forward, who was that request put forward to?

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: To the MFS.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Was it was put forward to the MFS directly, to the local brigade—

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: No; to the MFS of South Australia.

The PRESIDENT: I understand you are trying to get some clarification, minister, but we are not having a conversation. So minister, answer, and if the Hon. Mr Hood needs to ask a supplementary he can. Please give your answer.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Thank you. I would have to seek clarification whether that business case was put forward to the government before I can respond to what is in that business case referred to. However, as I have outlined previously, I am happy to have those conversations.

I have reached out to the MFS to find time, and I have allocated time, to go to Mount Gambier to have these conversations. I have made that public statement that I would be having those conversations with them. I am new to this role and I am trying to get my head around all the different services and brigades, and the MFS as well. So I am absolutely happy to have those conversations with them but, particularly in regard to their costings, have a look at what those costings actually look like. My understanding is it's not as simple as saying let's just go to 24/7—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The opposition front bench and the Hon. Mr Hunter—

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: The concerns that were raised yesterday—

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Sorry, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: No—go, please; now that we have some silence.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Concerns that were raised yesterday were following comments made on radio heightening fear that there was not a 24/7 MFS service available in Mount Gambier, which I am advised is not correct. There is a 24/7 MFS service available in Mount Gambier. As the member would know, there is the career firefighter, who is available through the day, and in the evening the retained firefighters are put on to support in the evening.

My understanding is that the Mount Gambier MFS station should be very proud of what they have been able to achieve so far. They not only are under the timeframe but exceed the national timeframes that are put forward in responding to an emergency. They do an incredible effort, one that they should be very proud of. As I have said, I am happy to have those conversations, but I don't like the idea of putting fear out there that there isn't a service available when there is one.