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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-12 Daily Xml
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AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEER COAST GUARD

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. What has the government done to bolster our state's marine rescue capability?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:43): Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of commissioning the Intrepid, a new search and rescue vessel for the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard at their headquarters at North Haven. The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, which is a member of Volunteer Marine Rescue, has made a significant contribution to marine safety in this state for many years through the provision of a 24-hour search and rescue capability, public education courses and the monitoring of marine emergency radio frequencies. In South Australia, the AVCG operates five flotillas—North Haven, O'Sullivan Beach, Port Augusta, Port Vincent and Kangaroo Island—and operates in excess of 30 radio bases positioned strategically throughout the state.

The government is very aware of the valuable role that volunteer marine rescue associations play in meeting marine-related risk in our state. As the number of registered recreational vessels increases and as marinas venture further out to sea, the risk of an incident or emergency occurring also increases. Therefore, it becomes vital that the search and rescue authorities have the ability to provide an appropriate response in these circumstances. Because of this need, the government provides volunteer marine rescue associations with annual grants from the community emergency services fund that contributes to operating costs, vessel replacement programs and contingency funding.

The acquisition of the Intrepid (to be located at North Haven) is an example of the emergency services fund serving the community, with a contribution of $71,855 to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard enabling this acquisition. The new vessel is a 6.7 metre Wescraft cabin cruiser, powered by two Mercury outboards and fitted with an inventory of navigation electronics, radios and safety equipment.

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard is an organisation that consists entirely of committed and professional volunteers dedicated to making our waters safer. On behalf of the government, I sincerely thank and commend all the volunteers who give their time freely, often at the expense of family and personal commitments and sometimes in potentially dangerous situations.

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