Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Country Fire Service Country Fire Service The Hon. T.T. NGO Legislative Council Country Fire Service The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister update the council about the recent quick response vehicle additions to the SA Country Fire Service fleet? The Hon. E.S. BOURKE Legislative Council Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services Minister for Autism Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Country Fire Service The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his question. Thirty-five quick response vehicles are soon to be commissioned and will be making their way into local Country Fire Service brigades across the state. This rollout of 35 vehicles represents one of the largest rollouts of this type of vehicle in CFS history. The 35 vehicles will be heading to strategic locations across the state to enhance existing capabilities in some areas and replacing existing vehicles that have reached the end of life in other areas. These purpose-built, high-quality vehicles can support a wide range of firefighting duties, including allowing access to the harshest environments where traditional trucks are unable to get to. These are complex vehicles which are stripped down Toyota Landcruisers, rebuilt to make them fireproof and carry extra weight. The commissioning of these vehicles includes radio installations, signage, stowage, registration and inspections from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. It is my understanding that the CFS firmly believes that this type of quick response vehicle is the best example of its kind anywhere in the country. It was my pleasure to join the federal member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost, to see fresh from production the new quick response vehicles, one of which will be going to the Sturt group. The commonwealth funding fought for and won by the local federal member allowed the two first prototypes, which were warmly received at Lobethal and Montacute last year. These state-of-the-art vehicles will become additions to the South Australian Country Fire Service fleet and we look forward to the delivery of the rest of these vehicles from the interstate factory to assist the hardworking CFS volunteers across our state.