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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-18 Daily Xml
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Emergency Services

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall government is investing in emergency services in my community?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:35): I thank the member for Kavel for the question. I acknowledge his deep passion for this area, and I thank him also for taking the time recently to allow me and also the Premier to go and visit fire-affected communities and thank the volunteers who have done a marvellous job in the Adelaide Hills recently. It is extremely important that we as a government continue to invest as many resources as possible to ensure that we keep South Australia bushfire resilient in terms of preparation.

Sir, you would be well aware that, after the horrible 2019-20 bushfire season, we were the first jurisdiction in all of Australia to commission an independent bushfire review, held by Mr Mick Keelty. We got on with the job of making sure we responded ultimately with a $97.5 million package to ensure we continue to make South Australia as bushfire resilient as possible. There were 27 action items we had to unveil before the next bushfire season. We undertook to make sure we do that by the end of this bushfire season, and we are on track, with 23 items already completed.

One of the things we are investing in, as the member for Kavel would be aware, is AVL technology, an absolute game changer in terms of making sure the state is bushfire resilient. This technology has been around since 2012, and many emergency services ministers on the other side of the chamber were aware of this technology. Did they implement it? No, they didn't. That's okay. We, the Marshall Liberal government, are getting on with the job of making sure we invest in AVL technology.

We have had a very successful trial, whether it's in the beautiful electorate of Flinders or in the member for MacKillop's electorate or even in the member for Mawson's electorate. There is even AVL technology trialled on Kangaroo Island, and I acknowledge of course what that community has gone through. We are making sure we unveil this technology so that we can make sure we see more of these trucks in these bushfire areas.

We have also got on with the job of making sure we unveil thermal imaging cameras across all our CFS groups, 55 in total. What these basically do is see heat. They have been put to very good use in recent times. When you look at what just happened in the Cherry Gardens and Scott Creek bushfires, those thermal imaging cameras were put to good use. Crews from right around the state were able to use them, so we are certainly continuing to invest in that as well. The CFS has also released some footage recently showing these thermal imaging cameras. They have been used by aircrews during the fires, which enabled them to identify hotspots, if you like, hidden by smoke and terrain.

I am also very pleased to say that we have prioritised building the facilities that matter to our emergency services volunteers. Our first stage of CFS Project Renew was very successful. We invested $5 million over two years and delivered 223 projects that helped clear some of the backlog of maintenance ignored by former governments. In the member for Kavel's electorate, for example, the Brukunga CFS received a much-needed lighting upgrade. The CFS State Training Centre received nearly $65,000 worth of work, from asbestos removal all the way through to new air conditioning.

On the other side of the member for Kavel's boundary, at Echunga in your own electorate, sir, the Echunga CFS received $33,000 to fix the wall of the station, which was actually falling down. It is not the first time and it is not the only time the CFS has benefited. We have continued to invest, to also upgrade SES units across South Australia. It has been very successful. We are continuing to roll out this Project Renew program. We are continuing to build what matters for our emergency services to continue to keep South Australia and South Australians safe and strong.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Waite, I call to order the member for Kavel.

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